HC Lugano missed the chance to earn a place in the Round of 16 as they suffered a home defeat to Eisbären Berlin.

Knowing that a win would put them through to the next round, and their fate in their own hands, Lugano were looking to get off to a good start against already eliminated Berlin. However, the Eisbären had other ideas and took the lead 4:07 into the game thanks to Matt White’s shot from distance that found its way through.

Lugano coach Chris McSorley used a powerbreak to ask his team to move the puck better, but they were to end the period shorthanded with Evan Tschumi serving a double minor for a high stick.

Things went from bad to worse for the hosts early in the second period. Leland Irving thought he’d made the initial save, but Blaine Byron poked the puck home from close range to double Berlin’s lead less than 90 seconds into the period.

Irving however kept his side in the game with two big saves within 45 seconds of each other. First, he denied Marcel Noebels who skated in 1-on-0, and just over half a minute later got across his crease well to deny a big one-time shot from the circle.

McSorley chose to call his timeout with his team 1:20 into a powerplay, and that decision at 29:28 would pay dividends- a bad giveaway from the visitors allowing Loïc Vedova to score some 80 seconds later. The goal sparked life into the hosts who then tied things up just 1:22 thereafter thanks to Bernd Wolf’s shot from the point going through traffic and straight into Tobias Ancicka’s net.

Noebels had a chance to put Berlin back ahead shorthanded with 6:20 left in the period, but again couldn’t find a way past Irving. An incredible save from Ancicka in the Eisbären net kept the scores level, kicking his legs out with a sprawling save to stop Lugano going ahead with 2:30 left in the period.

A terrible defensive mix-up cost Lugano the lead as the Eisbären went back ahead. Irving’s pass was misplaced, but the deflection finish from White perfectly placed to put Berlin back ahead at 45:18. Calvin Thurkauf had an excellent chance to tie the game a few minutes later while Lugano played shorthanded, but his two efforts were blocked by Ancicka.

A late penalty on the Eisbären gave Lugano the chance to tie things up again, but a shoulder save from Ancicka denied the Swiss side’s best opportunity. McSorley pulled Irving with 1:50 left on the clock, but the gamble backfired as Giovanni Fiore found the cage with 1:40 to go to seal the win for Berlin.

Lugano’s stumble means that Skellefteå AIK advanced from Group E.