The Swiss team has chained a fifth success in five matches at the World Championship in Riga. For her first real test, she outscored Canada 3-2 on Saturday.
In an ice rink filled with more than 8,000 fans and won over to the cause of the Swiss, Patrick Fischer’s troupe delivered the part that was expected of them. Faced with needy Canadians, the white cross players managed their meeting well.
If Nico Hischier had not tried to score a goal between the legs when he could give his team a three-point lead, Switzerland would have been spared a tense end to the match. But the main thing is to have managed to get the best of the Canadians in the game and on the scoreboard.
History shows the way
After an initial third dominated by Switzerland, it took until the middle period to see the nets shake. And it was the Canadians who scored first. A goal dropped mid-match in power-play which left a mixed aftertaste in the mouths of the Swiss. Because this numerical advantage was caused by a foul by Nino Niederreiter and the Grison could have been seriously injured a few seconds earlier.
Joe Veleno administered a skating kick that could have had serious consequences. That’s why things got worse in front of the Canadian goal. But, fortunately for the men of Patrick Fischer, this opening of the opposing score did not calm their enthusiasm.
They were able to count on their first line and on a gala Nico Hischier. In the 34th, the center of the New Jersey Devils offered a nice number in the Canadian defense before placing the puck out of reach of goalkeeper Montembeault. The Helvetians did not stop there. In the 37th, under the impetus of the excellent Gaëtan Haas, Dario Simion was able to take advantage of a rebound following a throw from Marti to give his colors the advantage.
The safety goal came from the cane of Andres Ambühl. The eternal Graubünden took advantage of a completely failed line change from the maple leaf players to give Switzerland a breath of fresh air (3-1 in the 53rd).
Make way for the Czechs
An unbeaten Swiss who will now face the Czechs on Sunday evening (7:20 p.m.) with the ambition of first place in the group. A first place that would be interesting not to have to move too soon to Tampere.
/ATS
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