Looking for success against a top team for over a year, the Swiss team will still have to wait. Without its reinforcements from across the Atlantic, unlike two days earlier (Hischier, Kurashev, Siegenthaler), Switzerland was no match for Finland.
She can nevertheless have some regrets: with Akira Schmid for the first time in goal, the Nati had a very good first third. She should have taken the lead, but she only found the opposing posts through Moy (8th) then Herzog (15th).
Tired for her, it only took two small boosts from Patrick Puistola, author of a double, to launch Finland. Switzerland had a good opportunity to reduce the gap in the middle third with a penalty won by Christoph Bertschy, but Mike Künzle’s surprising choice did not pay off.
Tanner Richard was certainly able to take advantage of a bad change of opposing line to save honor in the 3rd third and finally beat the excellent Emil Larmi (51st, 1-3), the Swiss team was once again able to measure the gap that separates it from the best teams in the world.
This Saturday’s defeat is the 6th in the last 7 confrontations with Finland. Against Sweden, there are 16 (!) consecutive losses on Patrick Fischer’s record. A painful picture, less than a week before the start of the World Championships.
In Prague, the Nati will need all its reinforcements from the NHL, including a certain Roman Josi. Eliminated by Vancouver (4-2 in the series) with Nashville on the occasion of his 1000th match in the best league in the world, the Bernese should make the trip.
Switzerland will play one last match in this tournament against the host country of the Worlds, before starting the competition next Friday at 4:20 p.m. against Norway.
