With a 3-0 win over Turku, HC Ambri-Piotta became the first team to qualify for the semifinals of the 93rd Spengler Cup on Saturday afternoon. Goaltender Ludovic Waeber as well as goal scorers Brian Flynn and Matt D’Agostini, who scored twice, were the match winners for the Ticinesi, who showed up in all-out effort.

After a cautious start to the game from both sides, Lauri Pajuniemi hit the post to kick off the play in the seventh minute. Following that, the creatively playing Finns took control over the game in the first period. At times they pinned the Ticinesi into their own defensive zone. Ambri’s goaltender Ludovic Waeber quickly became the focal point. The netminder, on loan from Fribourg for the Spengler Cup, turned way 18 shots in the first 20 minutes alone. He only needed a little luck when the Finn Markus Nurmi hit the post (16.).

The team around Swiss coach Luca Cereda showed itself much more courageous and determined in the second period. The Ticinesi controlled the game with plenty of pressure. Robert Sabolic ripped a shot off the goalpost (22.). Then Ambri took the lead on two crazy goals. While on the penalty kill Brian Flynn successfully finished a counterattack with a perfectly placed backhand shot (29.). And shortly before the end of the first penalty against Turku, Matt D’Agostini increased the lead by squeezing the puck past Finnish goaltender Julius Pohjanska from the side of the net (36.). On defense the Ticinesi had a better grip on the Scandinavians thanks to a more aggressive man-to-man approach. This approach served them well in the third period as well, especially when killing penalties. Ambri’s goaltender Waeber was the star of the game with 32 saves. D’Agostini registered his second marker when he scored on an empty net to make it 3-0 with 78 seconds left on the clock.

The ecstatic Ambri fans, who created a wonderful atmosphere at the once again sold-out Davos Eisstadion, celebrated their semi-final berth with their La Montanara victory anthem. Ambri will play its semi-final matchup on Monday night after a rest day. TPS Turku, on the other hand, will be on the ice again for the quarterfinals on Sunday afternoon.

Ambri-Piotta – TPS Turku 3-0 (0-0, 2-0, 1-0)

Eisstadion Davos. – Attendance 6300 (sold out). – Referees Lemelin/Wiegand (USA/SUI), Kaderli/Schlegel (SUI/SUI).
Scoring: 29. Flynn (Douay/penalty Goi!) 1-0. 36. D'Agostini (Flynn, Sabolic) 2-0. 59. D'Agostini 3-0 (empty net).
Penalties: 6 minors on Ambri-Piotta, 3 minors and 10-minute penalty (Wirtanen) on TPS Turku.

Ambri-Piotta: Waeber; Jelovac, Plastino; Dotti, Fora; Pinana, Ngoy; Moor; Flynn, D'Agostini, Wolski; Müller, Zwerger, Miranda; Sabolic, Douay, Egli; Joël Neuenschwander, Goi, Mazzolini; Incir.

TPS Turku: Pohjanoksa; Larsson, Salonen; Viro, Windlert; Sund, Anttalainen; Forsström; Pyythia, Wirtanen, Janatuinen; Korpikoski, Filppula, Budish; Nurmin, Parssinen Pajuniemi; Holm, Karvonen, Lehtinen; Kuru.

Game notes: Ambri without Bianchi, Conz, Dal Pian, Hofer, Kneubühler, Kostner, Novotny und Rohrbach (all injured) and Fohrler, Trisconi, Hinterkircher und Fischer (all rested). – Post: 7. Pajuniemi, 16. Nurmi, 22. Sabolic. – 56:13 Timeout Turku, then empty-netted until 58:42.