A series of defeats and injuries but Lugano doesn 't want to know about the crisis

HC Lugano defeated HC Lausanne four goals to nil on Wednesday, yet the victory did little to quell the frustration within the Bianconeri camp. Despite securing three points against their cantonal rivals, the team continues to struggle with consistency, having lost nine of their last 13 matches. The result leaves Lugano in third-from-bottom position in the National League standings, trailing bottom club EHC Kloten by just one point despite playing one fewer game. The match served as a backdrop to a broader discussion regarding the club's current form. Mirco Müller, the 31-year-old defenseman who has played 188 games in the NHL, expressed visible bewilderment following a previous 2-7 defeat in Zug earlier in the week. Although he noted that his team was not dominated as heavily as the scoreline suggested, Müller admitted the squad needed to play more intelligently. He cited too many errors, missed scoring opportunities, and a lack of defensive compactness that failed to adequately support the goaltenders. Sport director Janick Steinmann rejected the notion that the team is in crisis. The 39-year-old emphasized a pragmatic approach, stating that every season starts from zero and mechanisms change. He acknowledged that while the team’s performance often exceeds their point accumulation, there is no panic. Steinmann pointed to the previous season as evidence that such phases can be overcome. After 16 games last year, Lugano had only 19 points, similar to this year’s start. Ultimately, they finished fifth in qualification and advanced directly to the playoffs before losing to ZSC Lions in the quarterfinals. Statistical data highlights specific areas requiring improvement. Offensively, Lugano generates significant volume, ranking behind only ZSC Lions and Lausanne in shots on goal with 501 attempts. However, their efficiency stands at 9.78 percent. Defensively, the issues are more pronounced. The team allows 3.63 goals per game, the highest rate in the league. Their penalty kill percentage is 71.19 percent, second worst in the competition after HC Ambri-Piotta. Furthermore, Lugano draws more two-minute penalties than all teams except Fribourg-Gottéron. In a related roster move, HC Lugano extended the contract of American forward Nick Shore through the end of the current season. Shore, 33, joined the club in the summer, and his previous deal was set to expire at the end of October. In 14 championship games this season, the center has recorded two goals and 11 assists. Steinmann praised Shore’s hockey intelligence and versatility. The former 304-game NHL player spent his last two seasons in Sweden before returning to Switzerland, where he previously won a national title with EV Zug in 2021. Elsewhere in the league, SC Bern secured a narrow 2-1 overtime win against Lugano in a separate recent fixture, marking their first home victory over the Bianconeri since 2023. That match saw Bern dominate early, leading 15-1 in shot attempts during the first period. A goal by Emil Bemstrom was disallowed via video review for kicking. Mats Alge opened the scoring in the 25th minute, assisted by Rodwin Dionicio. Jere Innala equalized for Lugano in the 55th minute, assisted by Rasmus Kupari and Nick Shore. Waltteri Merelä scored the winner in the 64th minute after stealing the puck from Rodrigo Abols. The attendance for that game was 16,606. Current league standings show ZSC Lions leading with 42 points from 16 games. HC Ambri-Piotta sits second with 29 points from 16 games, followed by SCL Tigers with 29 points from 18 games. HC Fribourg-Gottéron is fourth with 27 points from 17 games. Genève-Servette HC holds fifth with 26 points from 17 games. SC Bern is sixth with 25 points from 15 games. Lausanne HC is seventh with 24 points from 19 games. EV Zug is eighth with 22 points from 11 games. HC Ajoie is ninth with 22 points from 17 games. HC Lugano is tenth with 22 points from 17 games. HC Davos is eleventh with 21 points from 17 games. EHC Biel is twelfth with 20 points from 16 games. SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers and EHC Kloten share thirteenth place with 18 points each, having played 17 and 17 games respectively. The competitive landscape remains tight. Only eleven points separate second-place Ambri-Piotta from last-place Kloten. This proximity suggests rapid shifts in standing are possible. For Lugano, the focus remains on tightening defensive structures and converting high-volume shooting into goals. The extension of Shore’s contract aims to bolster the middle six with experienced leadership. As the season progresses, the management maintains that the foundation laid in training and past experiences provides a solid basis for recovery, even as results have been inconsistent thus far.