JYP Jyvaskyla scored two early goals and looked to be in firm command, but SC Bern scored three straight goals in the second period to take the lead after 60 minutes. Read more in Gamecentre. 

by Derek O'Brien

In front of another large home crowd, SC Bern remain unbeaten after seven CHL games this season. More importantly they lead by a goal after 60 minutes against JYP Jyvaskyla following a huge 3-2 comeback win.

It was all JYP in the opening minutes, as Bern got into early penalty trouble and it cost them twice. First David Jobin went off for holding at 1:45 and Antti Suomela finished off a nice passing play 29 seconds later. Then Martin Pluss was called for tripping and Sami Niku's shot from the point through traffic found the back of the net and it was 2-0 less than five minutes in.

JYP smelled blood and went for the kill in the very first period of the series, outshooting Bern 21-10, but after being beaten twice early, Leonardo Genoni was perfect the rest of the way, reminiscent of his play in the CHL for HC Davos last season.

Bern were a much different team in the second period, allowing only 4 shots against. And in the middle of the period they struck for three goals in a span of 3:17 – less time than it took JYP to score twice. 

Top scorer Ryan Lasch got things started on a great individual effort, taking the puck from end to end and beating Pekka Tuokkola.

“I figured I had a little more speed going then they did,” Lasch described. “I was going inside when my opponent went the other way and then I just kept my feet going and ended up in front of the goal and it went in. It was nice to get the momentum going for us.”

The momentum continued as 31 seconds later they tied it on a goalmouth scramble. Thomas Rufenacht and Simon Moser both whacked at it, with Moser's stick the last to touch the puck before it crossed the line. 

“We had a bad start with unnecessary penalties and got punished by them on the power play, but then we got our foot into the game,” Rufenacht said later. “In the second period it was the solo by Lasch that got us back into the game. We understood very quickly, that we could not let them have chances on the power play.”

But Bern did get a chance themselves and converted on their second opportunity of the game, as Maxim Noreau's shot from the point was deflected in front by Marc Arcobello.

Bern got the only power play of the third period but didn't get any offence on it. JYP tried to pess all period for the equalizer but Bern defended perfectly to preserve the lead in a period that was as different as night and day from the first – only 10 shots combined between the teams. 

“I thought we played very well in the first period and we had a lot of scoring chances, but we scored only twice,” said JYP coach Marko Virtanen. “That was our chance, and in the second period we had some penalties and Bern had some chances. Then the third period was really tight.” 

Looking ahead to the return game, he said: “In Jyvaskyla the rink is a little bit smaller, so it'll be a fast, tough game between two good teams. Everything's still open.”  

Well familiar with Finnish hockey, Lasch is cautiously optimistic about the return game. “I think we’ve put ourselves into a good position right now but we know it’s far from over. From my experience – I played over there – it’s going to be a tough game. We’re satisfied with the result here at home but it’s far from over.”