In the fourth match at the World Championship in Riga, Switzerland’s hockey players conceded their first goal, but in the end they defeated Slovakia 4:2 and won the fourth match in Group B. In Group A in Tampere, the Germans beat Denmark 6:4, scored for the first time in the fourth match and stayed in in the quarterfinal game.
Switzerland’s winning goal was scored by Christian Marti in the 47th minute. The Slovaks lost for the third time in the tournament and are fifth, but now they have to face the teams that are behind them in the table.
The Swiss used two more reinforcements from the NHL for the first time in the match – defender Siegenthaler and forward Hischier from New Jersey, who immediately participated in the first goal. Although Miranda threatened at first, Siegenthaler opened the scoring in the 6th minute, who shot past goalkeeper Hlavaj from the blue line.
The Slovaks, whose lineup was missing their most productive player Cehlárik, who was injured, then created several promising opportunities. But they didn’t beat goalkeeper Mayer.
The players from the country of the Helvetic Cross then did not use two power plays, but in the 25th minute they increased the lead by two to one after a successful renumbering. Niederreiter beat Hlavaj. The Slovaks were able to respond in a flash, 21 seconds later Kudrna, who was playing for the first time in the tournament, took down. The Swiss conceded for the first time at the World Cup and after 205 minutes and eight seconds.
The Swiss were significantly more active with shots, Malgin, Haas and Simion, who was weakened, got into promising positions and was stopped only at the cost of a foul by Pánik. In the subsequent penalty shootout, however, Hlavaj was successful against Fial. The favorite subsequently regretted it even more, as Regenda equalized with a quick finish 31 seconds before the end of the second period.
The key moment of the match came in the 47th minute, when Marti’s shot from the blue line was unfortunately deflected by defender Ivan. The Slovaks tried to equalize on the power play, but conceded the fourth goal.
The Germans have the first points
Encouraged by the previous wins, the Danes entered the game well, in the second minute they could open the Storm’s score after a two-to-one outnumbering. But he did not succeed, as did Seider on the other side, who hit the post.
The score changed for the first time in the 6th minute, when Moritz Müller unfortunately directed Lassen’s shot from the blue line into his own goal.
The Germans were able to return to the game in the second period, they increased their shooting activity and prevailed with a goal. Shortly before the halfway point of the match, forward Peterka shot past Dichow, then Ehl took advantage of the slight hesitation of the Danish goalkeeper, and Ehl promptly finished, and captain Moritz Müller ended the most successful game passage of the Germans in the tournament after an ideal pass from Noebels.
But the Danes were able to reduce 23 seconds before the end of the second period, Bau Hansen beat Niederberger. Ehlers was close to equalizing in the third part, but Wejsem managed to do so only in the 56th minute. But the Germans responded quickly, 20 seconds later Jonas Müller restored the lead with a shot from the blue line.
In a dramatic ending, the Germans kept the win, which realistically kept them in the game for promotion. They came through twice during the opponent’s power play, Wejse gave a spark of hope for the Danes for a moment with his second goal.
Ice Hockey World Championship – Group B (Riga):
Switzerland – Slovakia 4:2 (1:0, 1:2, 2:0)
Goals and assists: 6. Siegenthaler (Malgin, Hischier), 25. Niederreiter (Ambühl), 47. Marti (Richard), 60. Haas (Miranda, Simion) – 26. Kudrna (Kelemen, Pánik), 40. Regenda (Okuliar) , Priestess). Referees: Holm (Sweden), MacFarlane (USA) – Nothegger (Austria), Ondráček (CZ). Exclusion: 2:3. Usage: 0:1. Viewers: 4840.
Švýcarsko: Mayer – Kukan, Siegenthaler, Moser, Glauser, Marti, Loeffel, Geisser, Fora – Fiala, Hischier, Malgin – Niederreiter, Corvi, Ambühl – Miranda, Haas, Simion – Herzog, Richard, Ch. Bertschy. Trener: Fisherman.
Slovakia: Hlavaj – P. Koch, Nemec, Kňažko, Grman, Rosandič, Ivan, Gajdoš, Jánošík – Pánik, Hrivík, Kelemen – L. Hudáček, M. Sukeľ, Kudrna – Chromiak, Tamáši, Regenda – Okuliar, Čacho, Lunter. Coach: Ramsay.
Group A (Tampere):
Denmark – Germany 4:6 (1:0, 1:3, 2:3)
Goals and assists: 6. Lassen (M. Lauridsen, N. Ehlers), 40. Bau Hansen (Krogsgaard, Wejse), 56. Wejse (Olesen, Andersen), 60. Wejse (M. Lauridsen, A. Koch) – 30 Peterka (Wissmann), 32. Ehl (M. Müller, Seider), 38. M. Müller (Noebels, Peterka), 56. J. Müller (Wissmann, Stachowiak), 59. Noebels (Sturm), 60. Sturm. Referees: Hribik (Czech Republic), Langin (Can.) – Briganti (USA), Yletyinen (Sweden). Dismissal: 2:0. Usage: 0:1. Viewers: 3964.
Denmark: Dichow – Lassen, M. Lauridsen, Jensen Aabo, A. Koch, O. Lauridsen, Krogsgaard – N. Ehlers, Russell, N. Jensen – Boedker, Poulsen, Storm – Andersen, Aagaard, Scheel – Olesen, Wejse, Bau Hansen. Coach: H. Ehlers.
Německo: Niederberger – M. Müller, Seider, J. Müller, Wissmann, Szuber, Gawanke, Wagner – Peterka, Kahun, Noebels – Ehl, Sturm, Soramies – Tiffels, Wiederer, Kastner – Schütz, Stachowiak, Tuomie – Varejcka. Trener: Circle.
