Swiss start strong
By Andrew Podnieks |
14 MAY 2022
Switzerland's Andres Ambuhl #10 celebrates with Jonas Siegenthaler #97, Michael Fora #45, Calvin Thurkauf #79 and Tristan Scherwey #60 after scoring a goal on Italy.
photo: Chris Tanouye / HHOF-IIHF Images
Switzerland scored three goals in the first period--all assisted by Jonas Siegenthaler--and never looked back, swarming Italy for 60 minutes and coming away with a dominant 5-2 win. The loss was the 8th in a row for the Azzurri who failed to win a game in 2021.
It was the first game of the tournament for both teams. The Swiss have now won the last six meetings between the teams at the Worlds. The last Italian win was back in 1995.
The game was played in front of 3,641 at the Jaahaali, not the biggest, but the mainly Swiss crowd was noisy and raucous all the same.
"Last year's World Championship was still a World Championship, but it wasn't as much fun because fans weren't there," offered Swiss captain Nico Hischier. "So it's just great to have them here."
Italian goalie Andreas Bernard was sensational, facing 47 shots. His teammates managed only 14 on Reto Berra. It was a brisk, tame game, the referees handing out only three minors, two to the Swiss. The only Italian penalty came with five seconds left in the game.
"Overall, we had way more chances to score," noted Swiss veteran Andres Ambuhl. "And I guess we played a little bit too fancy once in a while, tried to make the extra pass. But at the end, we got the three points, and that's all that matters."
"We've got to be proud," said Alex Petan of the Italian team. "Coming in here, we felt pretty good about ourselves. We knew this was gonna be a challenge for us. You know, there were a couple of breakdowns we can work on and learn from our mistakes. But overall, I thought we played pretty well. It's always nice to put in a couple goals. You know, we've been working on our power play quite a bit. It's nice to get rewarded at the end there. But we've just got to focus on the next game here. Every day is a new day."
The opening period was one of total domination, and the score would have been much more one-sided but for the stellar play of Bernard, who was left to fend for himself time and again. The Swiss opened the scoring just 49 seconds after puck drop thanks to a great feed by Dario Simion to a streaking Denis Malgin. Malgin burst through the middle and went in alone, beating Bernard with a shot past the glove.
Bernard then took over, providing fans in Jaahalli with a series of highlight-reel saves. He made a blocker save off a dangerous shot from Siegenthaler, stoned Fabrice Herzog, who walked in alone, blocked an Enzo Corvi re-direct from the top of the crease, and denied Timo Meier coming in alone off the wing.
It was the first game of the tournament for both teams. The Swiss have now won the last six meetings between the teams at the Worlds. The last Italian win was back in 1995.
The game was played in front of 3,641 at the Jaahaali, not the biggest, but the mainly Swiss crowd was noisy and raucous all the same.
"Last year's World Championship was still a World Championship, but it wasn't as much fun because fans weren't there," offered Swiss captain Nico Hischier. "So it's just great to have them here."
Italian goalie Andreas Bernard was sensational, facing 47 shots. His teammates managed only 14 on Reto Berra. It was a brisk, tame game, the referees handing out only three minors, two to the Swiss. The only Italian penalty came with five seconds left in the game.
"Overall, we had way more chances to score," noted Swiss veteran Andres Ambuhl. "And I guess we played a little bit too fancy once in a while, tried to make the extra pass. But at the end, we got the three points, and that's all that matters."
"We've got to be proud," said Alex Petan of the Italian team. "Coming in here, we felt pretty good about ourselves. We knew this was gonna be a challenge for us. You know, there were a couple of breakdowns we can work on and learn from our mistakes. But overall, I thought we played pretty well. It's always nice to put in a couple goals. You know, we've been working on our power play quite a bit. It's nice to get rewarded at the end there. But we've just got to focus on the next game here. Every day is a new day."
The opening period was one of total domination, and the score would have been much more one-sided but for the stellar play of Bernard, who was left to fend for himself time and again. The Swiss opened the scoring just 49 seconds after puck drop thanks to a great feed by Dario Simion to a streaking Denis Malgin. Malgin burst through the middle and went in alone, beating Bernard with a shot past the glove.
Bernard then took over, providing fans in Jaahalli with a series of highlight-reel saves. He made a blocker save off a dangerous shot from Siegenthaler, stoned Fabrice Herzog, who walked in alone, blocked an Enzo Corvi re-direct from the top of the crease, and denied Timo Meier coming in alone off the wing.
Switzerland vs Italy - 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
SUI vs. ITA
The Swiss added to their tally with two late goals. The first came off the rush when a Corvi pass to the slot bounced off Calvin Thurkauf and in at 17:05. Then, with just 17.7 seconds remaining, a point shot from Siegenthaler was tipped in by Ambuhl, who was playing in his 116th career World Championship game in his record-setting 17th WM. Video review confirmed the tip was below the crossbar.
"I saw the D on the blue line, and I knew there were just a couple seconds left, like 20 or something," Ambuhl related. "So I went in front of the net. And he shot and luckily I somehow I tipped it and it went in. I was happy it wasn't a high stick."
The shots were 17-3 in the first, and the second period was more of the same as the Swiss continued their five-on-five "power play." The Swiss skated faster, moved the puck around with a speed and skill that left the Italians stationery, not sure which way to turn, and dominated every aspect of the game. That they scored only one more was the result of too many cute passes and attempts to create pretty goals. Nevertheless, they made it 4-0 at 6:20 off a goal similar to their third. This time it was a long shot form Philipp Kurashev that was tipped in front by Thurkauf.
Italy did manage one golden scoring chance. Luca Frigo got the puck in the slot, all alone with time to spare. He fired wide.
The Italians scored at 8:40 in the third, however. Dante Hannoun made a little drop pass to Daniel Glira, and his quick wrister fooled Berra, ending his shutout bid.
Hischier closed out the scoring for the Swiss at 18:20, knocking in a pass from Meier. But Italy still had one more response. They got a late power play, and Hannoun whacked in a loose puck to make it 5-2 at 18:52.
"I saw the D on the blue line, and I knew there were just a couple seconds left, like 20 or something," Ambuhl related. "So I went in front of the net. And he shot and luckily I somehow I tipped it and it went in. I was happy it wasn't a high stick."
The shots were 17-3 in the first, and the second period was more of the same as the Swiss continued their five-on-five "power play." The Swiss skated faster, moved the puck around with a speed and skill that left the Italians stationery, not sure which way to turn, and dominated every aspect of the game. That they scored only one more was the result of too many cute passes and attempts to create pretty goals. Nevertheless, they made it 4-0 at 6:20 off a goal similar to their third. This time it was a long shot form Philipp Kurashev that was tipped in front by Thurkauf.
Italy did manage one golden scoring chance. Luca Frigo got the puck in the slot, all alone with time to spare. He fired wide.
The Italians scored at 8:40 in the third, however. Dante Hannoun made a little drop pass to Daniel Glira, and his quick wrister fooled Berra, ending his shutout bid.
Hischier closed out the scoring for the Swiss at 18:20, knocking in a pass from Meier. But Italy still had one more response. They got a late power play, and Hannoun whacked in a loose puck to make it 5-2 at 18:52.
Switzerland vs Italy - 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship
OF