Entering a major competition is never easy. Especially for Switzerland with Roman Josi at the head of the gondola. Because if the presence of the Bernese defender relieved Patrick Fischer, it also added pressure on the group and the staff. Basically, no room for error.
From the first skates, we clearly saw why Josi is one of the best rearguards on the planet. The blades feel like they never press too hard into the ice. The number 90 has incredible ease. However, this does not prevent him from not always being well placed, as during this scene in the 19th where the “NHL line” almost conceded the 1-2.
Before this occasion, the Swiss had suffered the equalizer from Vikingstad in the 15th minute. Ken Jäger, promoted to the second row with Niederreiter and Andrighetto, did not seem comfortable in this sequence. And it’s all the more unfortunate that the opener fell from the cane of the brand new Swiss champion. A precise shot which fooled goalkeeper Arntzen in the 12th minute.
A second third controlled
But if Romain Loeffel “stole” the show from Roman Josi by scoring the 2-1 in the 25th minute with a nice wrist shot, it was the captain of the Nashville Predators who gave Senteler the 3-1 at the 29th after a nice dance within the Scandinavian rearguard. Switzerland then widened the gap thanks to Tristan Scherwey in the 34th. The Norwegians responded in fits and starts like in the 40th, but Leonardo Genoni closed the door well.
Nino Niederreiter added a fifth power-play success in the third third, while the Norwegians also scored a goal with an extra man in the 59th.
Switzerland will now have a day off before facing Austria on Sunday evening at 8:20 p.m. and the Czech Republic at the same time the following day. Note that this game took place in front of 16,617 spectators. Proof, if needed, that the Czech Republic is indeed a hockey country.
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