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International

2022 Worlds: Canada defeats Switzerland, other Day 3 games

The Swiss show promise but can’t keep up with the Canadians yet!

Day 3 featured a full lineup of four games - two in Group A and two in Group B. Let’s take a look at how they all played out, starting with our Game of the Day, Canada versus Switzerland.

Canada beat Switzerland, 4-1
Group A

At the puck drop, Switzerland immediately went on the offensive. The key to their strategy was not sitting back and letting Canada control the game early. Canada was forced to back check but quickly gained the puck. Canada swiftly took it up the ice and began to set up its offence. Early in the first, they were able to run their set plays without much interruption.

The Canadian pressure was unrelenting but unsuccessful for 10 minutes. But just after the ten-minute mark, Canada broke through with a Sarah Fillier goal. Fed the puck at the point, Filler pivoted and shot through a Potomak screen into the net.

Canadian pressure persisted until Switzerland had a power play to close the frame. Together, Alina Müller and Lara Stalder circled the offensive zone trying to make something go their way. Despite their extended look, the two couldn’t get set up, and the Canadian defence was too strong. All game, these two were thwarted by the stars on all of Canada’s lines.

The Canadian strength was evident throughout the period, and the shot count favoured Canada 14-3 after the first. The score, however, reflected a much closer game, with the Canadians holding just a one-goal lead. Though losing, this Swiss felt very much still in this game, considering the last time they met, the Canadians thrashed Switzerland 10-3.

The Swiss defended valiantly and frantically, at times. Players like Noemi Ryhner rushed to get sticks and bodies in Canadian shooting and passing lanes. The defending gave Swiss goaltender Andrea Brändli enough time to save 42 Canadian shots.

Sarah Fillier doubled the lead with her second goal of the game – another hot shot. The pressure from Canada only seemed to get stronger and Swiss legs grew tired.

Emily Clark scored Canada’s third goal of the game. The Swiss were clearly starting to struggle and failed to record a shot in the first 15 of the second period. They had just one shot to Canada’s 19.

Canada has a bad habit of sitting back in the third period of games where they have the lead. Though not many, Switzerland had four shots in the period and kept Canada to 14, Switzerland’s best period of the game. Switzerland got on the board with a great zone entry that caught Canada sleeping.

A hard pass from the Swiss zone found Lana Marie Lutz at her own blue line. She tapped it to a skating Alina Marti, who quickly redirected it to Laura Zimmerman and continued to the net. Zimmerman carried it into the zone and sent it across the slot to Marti, whose shot found its way through Ann-Renée Desbiens.

The goal didn’t do much to the way of the game. Blayre Turnbull closed the game with one final goal. Canada defeats Switzerland 4-1.

The game was indicative of an improving Swiss team. The side is young, but all but two players are already in at least their second major international tournament. The team is clearly beginning to develop cohesion and comfort with themselves. They’re also meeting the pace at which teams must play to keep up at this level. The growth of this Swiss team in every tournament of the last few years is remarkable, and they will be explosive in years to come.

USA beat Finland, 6-1
Group A

IIHF Recap

Goal Scorers:

USA: Jincy Dunne, Abby Roque, Amanda Kessel, Kessel, Hannah Bilka, Hannah Brandt
Finland: Ella Viitasuo

Sweden beat Germany, 4-3 in a shootout
Group B

Goal Scorers:
Sweden: Lina Ljungblom, Hanna Olsson, Anna Kjellbin, Olsson (shootout), Mira Jungaker (shootout)
Germany:  Nina Christof, Nicola Eisenschmid, Tanja Eisenschmid

IIHF Recap

Czechia beat Denmark, 5-1
Group B

Goal Scorers:
Czechia: Katerina Mrazova, Natalie Mlynkova, Daniela Pejsova, Michaela Pejzlova, Daniela Pejsova
Denmark:  Michelle Weis

IIHF Recap

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