Fribourg-Gottéron secured a pivotal 3-2 overtime victory over HC Davos in Game 3 of the National League playoff final, taking a 2-1 series lead thanks to a late goal from veteran captain Julien Sprunger. The decisive strike came in the 89th minute of play, during the second overtime period, as Sprunger capitalized on a scoring opportunity from a difficult angle to seal the win for the visiting team.
The goal marked Sprunger’s 413th career goal for Fribourg-Gottéron, underscoring his enduring importance to the team as he prepares to retire at the finish of the season. His performance in the high-stakes match drew praise for its composure and timing, particularly given the physical and emotional weight of the moment.
Fribourg had opened the scoring early through Marcus Sörensen, who netted just 15 seconds into the game after a precise pass from Lucas Wallmark. However, Davos responded quickly, with Simon Knak equalizing only 13 seconds later to nullify Fribourg’s early lead. The goal sparked a shift in momentum, though Fribourg would regain control later in the contest.
Throughout regulation, both teams traded chances and penalties. Fribourg’s Yannick Frehner was penalized for an illegal line change, allowing Davos’ Yannick Frehner to feed Filip Zadina, who then tested Fribourg goaltender Reto Berra. Despite sustained pressure from Davos, particularly in the middle periods, Fribourg managed to stay resilient, with Sörensen and Wallmark combining again later to make it 2-2 before the final period.
In the third period, Fribourg appeared poised to take the lead when Sörensen returned the favor to Wallmark for a slick 2-2 goal, but Davos continued to press. The game remained tied after regulation, forcing overtime. During the first extra period, Davos held more possession and created several scoring chances, including shots off the post by Attilio Biasca and Christoph Bertschy. Fribourg also had opportunities, notably a goal-line attempt by defender Juuso Arola that was disallowed.
The second overtime began with Fribourg absorbing pressure, but a controversial non-call on a stick foul by Wallmark against Zadina’s knee went unpenalized, drawing debate among spectators and analysts. Despite the adversity, Fribourg’s persistence paid off when Sprunger received the puck in the attacking zone and fired a precise shot past Berra to win the game.
The victory marked Fribourg-Gottéron’s third straight away win in the series, reinforcing their ability to perform on the road under pressure. With the series now tied at 2-1 in favor of Fribourg, Game 4 is scheduled to take place in Fribourg on Friday at 8:00 PM local time.
As the team prepares for the next contest, attention remains focused on Sprunger’s farewell season and whether he can help deliver Fribourg-Gottéron its first-ever National League championship—a title that has eluded the franchise throughout its history.
For continued updates on the National League playoffs, including schedules, results, and player statistics, fans are encouraged to consult official league sources and trusted sports news outlets.