Ambri-Piotta stretched their lead at the top of the Swiss ice hockey league on Tuesday, despite being held to a 3-3 draw at home by Fribourg.

After coming from behind to take a 3-2 lead, the team from canton Ticino were pegged back by a Mike Gaul goal halfway through the final period. Neither side were able to score a winning goal in overtime, but Ambri were still able to celebrate after their local rivals Lugano suffered a surprise away defeat.

Last year's league runners-up were beaten 4-1 by newly-promoted Lausanne, who are currently second bottom in the league standings. Lugano remain in second place, two points behind Ambri.

Davos add to Lions' woes

Breathing down Lugano's necks are third-placed Davos, who beat the Zurich Lions 4-0 on Tuesday, heaping yet more misery on the defending league champions. The result saw Larry Huras's men slump to tenth place in the 12-team league, further jeopardising their chances of making it into the championship play-offs.

Tuesday's defeat was the Lions' eighth of the season and their first loss to Davos in seven meetings. As well as an impressive scoreline, Davos were able to celebrate a record attendance for the season as 5,390 fans gathered to see Reto von Arx make his comeback for the club.

The 25-year-old Emmentaler, who recently returned after one season in America's NHL, has been suffering from angina and was unable to make much of an impression on the match.

Wins for Bern and Zug

Fribourg are level on points with Davos following the draw in Ambri, while Bern climbed up to fifth spot after demolishing bottom side Chur 7-0. Swedish forward Patrick Juhlin grabbed two goals and two assists in the one-sided match, while young goalkeeper Marco Bührer celebrated his second shutout of the season.

Zug were also on their way up the standings, winning 2-1 in Rapperswil to climb above their hosts. Zug are fast becoming the Swiss league's away specialists - clinching five of their six wins so far while on the road. After a good start to the season, Rapperswil have now lost their last four matches.

Last second take-off for Flyers

Meanwhile the two teams currently sitting on either side of the championship round cut-off line were forced to share the points on Tuesday. Ninth-placed Langnau had appeared on course for victory over the Kloten Flyers when Finnish defender Erik Hämäläinen put the home team 2-1 up with 41 seconds of the final period remaining.

But with just one second to go, Swedish forward Fredrik Nilsson scored for Kloten to keep the Flyers just above the cut-off line in eighth place.

swissinfo with agencies

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