- At the World Cup in Finland, Switzerland won a top-class preliminary round match against Canada in 6:3.
- Nati comes to reserve 3 times in the first third, but always reacts quickly.
- Thanks to a 5th win in the 5th game, Switzerland have the best chance of a first-place preliminary round finish in Group A before the final 2 group games. Tickets for the quarter finals have already been bought.
- Andres Anbuhl has become the only record player with his 120th World Cup appearance.
Yes, it is still the “only” preliminary round of the World Cup. But this ice hockey national team makes you want more and with a performance like this against Canada this Saturday it invites you to dream more and more.
It was clear even before the 5th game that Canada would be Switzerland’s first major barometer in this World Cup. And coach Patrick Fischer’s team has proved that they can not only keep up with the best of nations, but also field them.
captain leads the way
In a very balanced duel over the entire distance, Switzerland were on their way to victory in the 27th minute. After Dean Cooken’s pass, Nico Hisier showed his class and overtook Canadian goalkeeper Logan Thompson with a hard and well-established wrist shot to 4:3. This was the first lead for Nati and she never gave up.
With Pius Sutter, just 15 minutes before the end, it was another NHL player who took the wind off the Canadian sail with a 5:3. Sutter had decided to go it alone in a 2-on-1 situation and his plan worked. As a result, Switzerland had to defend twice more, which they managed to do thanks to Leonardo Genoni. Timo Maier put the lid on the Swiss win with a blank-netter 2 minutes before the end.
6 goals in a brilliant opening third
The top game in Group A lived up to expectations from the first face-off, and there was no sign of fumigation. Due to a difficult gang investigation by Meyer, Switzerland suffered a 5-minute shortfall.
She survived it and shortly after, Hisier scored the alleged opening goal after being stabbed in the slot. However, after studying the video, scoring was not allowed because the goalkeeper was interrupted – a controversial decision.
The Canadian then used momentum to open the scoring through Kent Johnson (12th). A wild exchange of blows ensued:
- 13 Minutes: 59 seconds after 0:1, Michael Fora finds the gap in goalkeeper Thompson from an ambush. His shot was decisively removed by a Canadian.
- 15 minutes: Meier’s cross pass is intercepted on the offensive blue line, Adam Lowry, outnumbered, attacks Genoni alone and happily marks 2–1 for “Maple Leaves”.
- 16 Minutes: Switzerland equalized again in the same power play. Dean Cooken elegantly decelerates several times and puts the disc in the case.
- 20 Minutes: The Swiss make a mistake when building up the game in their own third. Drake Batherson has the advantage and finds a way to beat Genoni 3-2.
- 20 Minutes: 9 seconds before the end of the third, Jonas Siegenthaler has the best chance to level again. When Sutter passes, the defender fires an ice-cold shot.
ambuhal new world cup record player
Even before the first puck was thrown, it was a Swiss who was the center of attention at the Helsinki Ice Hall: Andres Ambuhl. The 38-year-old played his 120th World Cup game against Canada and is now the only record holder ahead of Germany’s Udo Kiesling (119 games). Anbuhl is already fighting his 17th World Championships in Finland. The HCD striker made his World Cup debut in 2004 in Prague.
Here’s how to proceed
The next preliminary round game for Switzerland is already scheduled for Sunday. At 19:20 the national team meets France. After a rest day on Monday, the Germans are the final Swiss rivals in the group stage at 11:20 am on Tuesday. Switzerland were confirmed as quarter-finalists even before the game against Canada. All quarter finals will be held on Thursday.
