FIN 3:2 SUI | Finland - Switzerland (World Championship)

World Championship

Canada2 – Italy veterans	6:1 (end)	\|	USA – Kazakhstan	4:3 (after OT)	\|	Sweden2 – Slovakia2	3:1 (end)
Finland – Switzerland	3:2 (1:0 after SO)

after shootout (1:0)

Finland

3:2 (1:0, 1:0, 0:2)

Switzerland

Friday 16.05.2014, 19:45 • Minsk Arena, Minsk • World Championship

		That turned out to be a real thriller, and with winning the shootout Finland have beaten Switzerland 3-2! Both teams were worthy of the victory today, we were simply treated to some fantastic hockey tonight. The Finns raced into a two goal lead with goals from Tommi Kivisto and Olli Jokinen, but Switzerland pegged them back with third period goals from Reto Suri and Roman Josi. In the shootout there was only one man who scored and it was Iiro Pakarinen of Finland, giving his team two points and leaving the Swiss with only one. Thanks for following the game with us, and see you again soon for more breathtaking action from the 2014 IIHF World Championships! (22:16:58)
		Game over.
		The winning penalty shot is scored by IIRO PAKARINEN!
		Iiro Pakarinen can win it here for Finland, and he does! He beats Reto Berra for power into the left hand corner and it's game over!
		Pekka Rinne now makes a stunning blocker save! As the Swiss player waited for him to go down it seemed impossible to miss, but the Finn makes a beautiful stop!
		Petri Kontiola tries his luck, but as he waits for Reto Berra to commit he takes too long and the netminder still makes the save!
		The Swiss now go first, but Kevin Fiala is denied by the netminder's body!
		Reto Suri can win it here for Switzerland, but Pekka Rinne denies him excellently! We're into sudden death!
		Erik Haula skates in for Finland, decides to go right up close but Reto Berra gets the better of him!
		Denis Hollenstein also now fails to score, he went for power but completely missed the net!
		Jori Lehtera drives in with real pace, cuts to the backhand but Reto Berra makes an excellent pad save!
		Damien Brunner goes now for Switzerland, he drifts to the right and off Pekka Rinne the puck trickles just wide!
		Jarkko Immonen steps up first for the Finns, but he wrists hard into the left hand post!
		Finland are to shoot first!
		Start of shootout.
		We are indeed off to the shootout! We've been treated to an excellent game, and it's just a lottery now as to who will win. In any case the winner will get two points, whereas the loser will still skate off with one.
		Statistics after overtime- Shots on target- 23-26 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 24-21 Penalty minutes- 2-4
	65:00	Overtime finished.
	64:51	Josi! Off the faceoff draw Roman Josi cracks a fierce effort wide of the right hand post just before the buzzer went off!
	64:39	Roman Josi drifts to the left, looks to feed someone on the crease but the netminder sweeps it up into his glove. With only a few seconds left penalty shots are now looming!
	63:53	Reto Berra makes a fantastic save off a massive slapper from the point! And Finnish sticks were very close to the rebound!
	63:29	Hollenstein! Denis Hollenstein cutting back to the left hand boards whips the puck in on net, but Pekka Rinne gloves easily
	62:40	Finland cough up the puck right behind their net and they only just get away with it! They just can't make mistakes like that!
	62:16	The Swiss have survived that scare and they're back to full strength
	60:57	Jori Lehtera sends a very dangerous pass across the face of goal from the right! All it needed was a telling touch!
	60:46	The Swiss have now taken a timeout, they really don't want to lose while being on the penalty kill
	60:16	Finland now though have got a massive powerplay chance to take the two points, Kevin Romy of Switzerland has been penalised for hooking
	60:01	Sudden death overtime is underway! If we won't see a goal in these five minutes it will be penalty shots!
	60:01	Overtime began.
		Statistics after the initial 60 minutes- Shots on target- 22-25 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 23-20 Penalty minutes- 2-2
	60:00	3rd period finished.
	59:41	Damien Brunner just can't connect with the puck as it popped out to the crease! And it's now the final few seconds of a thrilling game with overtime heading our way!
	59:11	Jokinen! He could have won it there for the Finns! Taking in a classy backhand pass Olli Jokinen can only find the netminder's chest from the right of the crease!
	58:08	Olli Paola escaping his marker by the left faceoff circle decides to come inside, goes for a full blooded slapshot and Reto Berra gathers at the second attempt!
	57:31	Fiala! Pekka Rinne doesn't have a clue how it hit him but Kevin Fiala's dangerous effort is sent clear by the goaltender!
	57:01	Romy! The Finns are in danger of falling apart completely as Kevin Romy unmarked on the right slaps hard into Rinne's chest! The Swiss are seriously pumped up, and what a comeback from them!
	56:35	Goal for Team Switzerland! It's hard to say that they don't deserve it! Really heavy pressure in the Finnish zone is finished off by ROMAN JOSI who twisting in from the right flank fires in a low cutting wrister that gets beyond Pekka Rinne! It's a tied game at 2-2! Assists- Kevin Romy and Reto Suri
	55:23	Moser! Practically on the goal line glove side Simon Moser just can't stuff the puck beyond Pekka Rinne! And on the rebound Finnish defenders did really well to shuffle it out of danger!
	54:29	Great chance for Finland to just about finish it right there! It's a two on one breakaway, but the pass to the left hand post is lacking!
	52:29	Off a faceoff draw in the Finnish zone Kevin Fiala has space, but takes too long making his mind up what to do and he's stripped of the puck!
	51:55	Romy! What a chance to tie it at two apiece! After Switzerland keep the puck in the Finnish zone for a long time Kevin Romy from point blank range can only find Pekka Rinne's right pad! He should really have scored!
	49:50	Lehtera! The game is becoming really stretched now as Jori Lehtera feeds off a poor Swiss turnover, sprints down the left flank and with only Reto Berra to beat fires inches over the far post! That was so close!
	49:11	Suri! He could have had his second there! With only one defender in between him and Pekka Rinne Reto Suri takes on the shot early, and with Rinne scrambling the puck whistles over the bar!
	48:41	Sallinen! On a pacy counterattack Jere Sallinen breaks in the zone, checks back cleverly and forces Berra into a smart glove save!
	47:42	Reto Berra loses his mask as he made a sprawling save to deny Jarkko Immonen closing in stick side, and the referees stop play to allow him to be protected again
	47:11	Now Komarov neatly dishes a teammate skating free on the right, but the wrister looking for the far corner is charged down!
	46:51	Leonid Komarov drifts offside for the Finns. They will be a bit worried now, a one goal lead is always fragile
	45:50	Mathias Seger flashes the puck across the face of goal from the left but it's too high for anyone to connect with!
	44:59	The Swiss commit icing. They are the ones now having all of the possession, and Pekka Rinne can expect to have a lot more work to do
	43:12	Seger! You can feel the Swiss adrenaline! For the second time in a few minutes on the left the Finns are all over the place, but this time they get back in time to charge down Mathias Seger's effort!
	41:57	Goal for Team Switzerland! Finally Pekka Rinne is beaten! For once the Finnish defence is caught horribly out of position, and RETO SURI on the left flank winds up for a heavy slapper that speeds under the goalkeeper's arm and into the far corner! It's 2-1! Assists- Kevin Fiala
	41:10	Pekka Rinne comfortably fields an effort from the blue line. He has been by far the best player of the game so far
	40:49	Erik Haula slaps a one timer not too far over the bar from the high slot! A third Finnish goal would surely kill this one off
	40:15	The third and vital period is go! It won't be easy for Switzerland at two down but they have to give it a go
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Statistics after the first two periods- Shots on target- 13-14 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 14-11 Penalty minutes- 2-2
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:33	A spinning Denis Hollenstein tries to sneak a pass from behind the net onto the crease, but a Finnish defenceman carefully shepherds it into Pekka Rinne's glove. And there are now less than 30 seconds to go in an entertaining second period
	37:52	The Swiss have ridden that storm and they're back to full strength
	37:48	Excellent exciting build up play is finished off with Olli Paola wristing into Reto Berra on the doorstep! Had he picked his spot better he would surely have scored!
	37:18	Hietanen! Juuso Hietanen smashes a powerful one timer high and wide of the net! Reto Berra didn't have a clue where that was!
	35:52	And to make their matters worse Victor Stancescu for interference has given Finland a powerplay opportunity to make themselves feel even more confident
	35:42	Finland are again like in the first period taking control of the game and slowing it right down, the Swiss just cannot get possession
	34:05	Just as Switzerland were building up ahead of steam they've been dealt a very heavy blow, coming down from 2-0 against this Finnish team is no enviable task
	32:26	Goal for Team Finland! Totally against the run of play the Finns make it two! OLLI JOKINEN taking in the bobbling puck behind the net cuts to the right hand post and stuffs his wraparound attempt past Reto Berra! The netminder just didn't expect it and it's 2-0! Assists- Erik Haula
	32:01	Dean Kukan now tries his luck from distance, but those kinds of efforts are not going to trouble Pekka Rinne when he's in this mood
	31:05	Finland trap the puck behind the Swiss net for sometime before Switzerland eventually chuck it clear. And on the ensuing counterattack Victor Stancecu slaps into Rinne's midriff on the right faceoff circle
	29:22	Weber! Yannick Weber puts some real power in that slapshot but Pekka Rinne's extending glove takes it in with ease! He is really on his game!
	28:01	Finland commit icing. The tempo of the game has significantly been raised, both teams are playing with more urgency especially the Swiss
	26:41	Romy! That's Switzerland's best chance as yet! Unmarked on the doorstep while skating with power Kevin Romy is somehow denied by a simply super reaction save by Pekka Rinne! And on the rebound as an immense scramble erupted again Rinne is the hero!
	26:15	Tommi Kivisto just can't get his stick on a pacy pass across to the left hand post! Had he made contact he would have been sure to score with Reto Berra already powerless!
	25:23	Roman Josi jinks in from behind the net, decides against playing it across the crease and his dump in from the point is easily sent clear
	24:44	Pluss! The Finns poorly turn over the puck neutral ice, Benjamin Pluss is found completely open on the left faceoff circle and he wrists into Pekka Rinne's chest!
	22:01	Marttinen! The streaking Jyri Marttinen is fed at the left of the slot but he fires into the side netting! He had the goal practically at his mercy!
	21:17	Finland didn't have a lot of defending to do on that penalty kill and they're back to full strength
	20:49	Damien Brunner slaps in on net from the high slot, but with Simon Moser trying to distract Pekka Rinne up close the puck clatters into the boards!
	20:01	The second period has got started with the Swiss on the powerplay for a further 01:17
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Statistics after the opening period of play- Shots on target- 4-4 Saves made by the goalkeeper- 4-3 Penalty minutes- 2-0
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:54	It's now the final few seconds of the first period with the Swiss poised to start the second stanza on the powerplay
	19:17	Tommi Kivisto the lone goalscorer so far has also picked up the first penalty of the game, for tripping
	18:45	Finland are the more physical side so far with three hits compared to zero for the Swiss
	17:16	Jarkko Immonen bursts almost right down the center of the Swiss zone, but covering defenders push him wide
	16:31	Finland move offside with already less than four minutes to go in the opening period
	15:27	Dean Kukan getting away from his defenders on the left wrists in on net, but Rinne sticks it out of danger!
	14:18	Weber! Yannick Weber takes aim from the blue line and with heavy traffic in front of him Pekka Rinne still manages to push it round into the boards!
	12:08	Sniffing around for the bobbling puck on the Swiss crease Olli Paola is charged down just in the nick of time! The Finns do look on their game offensively
	11:00	Finally Switzerland create something as a spinning Andres Ambuhl can't make good enough contact at the tip of the slot! It opened up a bit for him there!
	09:57	The puck pops out to the Swiss high slot, and Leonid Komarov has a stinging one timer sent away by Reto Berra and his defenders!
	09:10	Paola! Twisting and turning to the right of the slot Olli Paola has his effort blocked when he was looking likely to score!
	08:27	You can hear plenty of ''Finland, Finland!'' chants inside the Minsk Arena, although it isn't a sellout more Finns look to be here
	07:05	The Swiss aren't seeing an awful lot of the puck so far, Finland are looking very composed tonight
	06:01	The Swiss immediately try and respond, but a low wrister from the right faceoff circle is comfortably taken in by the crouched Pekka Rinne
	05:14	Goal for Team Finland! The Finns have started brightly and they strike first! TOMMI KIVISTO lets an absolute ripper go from the point and it flies beyond Reto Berra and into the right hand corner! It's 1-0! Assists- Jyri Marttinen and Miikka Salomaki
	03:48	Lehtera! Standing all alone on the doorstep Jori Lehtera takes an air shot when taking in a pass from behind the net!
	02:28	Dominik Schlumpf looks to get away a dangerous slapshot from distance, but Finnish defenders charge it down at source
	02:17	Finland commit the first icing of the evening
	01:09	Petri Kontiola showing excellent skating skills takes the puck to the point, feeds a teammate who then slaps into Reto Berra's pads
	00:35	We're underway! The Finns may be the slight favourites, but it's going to be a tight encounter
	00:01	Game started.
		Both teams are now emerging out on to the ice and it's time for the opening faceoff!
		Starting lineups: Finland: Rinne (Koskinen)- Mantyla, Hietanen, Lehtera, Kontiola, Palola- Ohtamaa, Karalahti, Haula, Komarov, Jokinen- Kivisto, Lajunen, Pakarinen, Immonen, Salomaki- Marttinen, Huhtala, J Sallinen, T Sallinen, Savinainen Switzerland: Berra (Genoni)- Schlumpf, Josi, Brunner, Romy, Moser- Weber, Seger, Ambuhl, Cunti, Hollenstein- Kukan, Blum, Schappi, Stancescu, Rufenacht- Grossman, Pluss, Froidevaux, Fiala, Suri Referees: Frano, Jerabek, Dremelj, Dahmen, Schrader, Hull.
		Finland didn't get off to the best start, losing to Latvia 3-2 and Russia 4-2, but they have regrouped beating Germany 4-0 and then Belarus yesterday 2-0. Their opponents today Switzerland have been a real disappointment so far only winning the one game against Germany 3-2, and losing to Russia 5-0 and to Belarus 4-3.
		This is how Group B looks before this game tonight. 1. RUS W4 L0 GS 22 GA 5 PTS 12 2. LAT W3 L1 GS 16 GA 14 PTS 9 3. USA W3 L2 GS 19 GA 18 PTS 8 4. FIN W2 L2 GS 10 GA 7 PTS 6 5. BLR W2 L2 GS 9 GA 12 PTS 6 6. GER W2 L2 GS 7 GA 10 PTS 5 7. SUI W1 L3 GS 8 GA 14 PTS 3 8. KAZ W0 L5 GS 11 GA 22 PTS 2
		Finnish hockey is in a good place after a winning a bronze medal at the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, and they'll be looking to follow that up with a successful result here in Minsk. Switzerland didn't have quite such a successful Olympics, but they historically reached the World Championship final only last year.
		Good evening and welcome to this 2014 IIHF World Championship Group B match between Finland and Switzerland. Both these sides are banking on progressing into the next round, and this game will be one of the most crucial for both.
		Welcome. Game starts at 19:45.

Commentary by

Shaun Nicolaides

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 6. Kivisto (Marttinen, Salomaki), 33. Jokinen (Haula), dec. p.s. Pakarinen – 42. Suri (Fiala), 57. Josi (Romy, Suri)

Finland: Rinne (Koskinen)- Mantyla, Hietanen, Lehtera, Kontiola, Palola- Ohtamaa, Karalahti, Haula, Komarov, Jokinen- Kivisto, Lajunen, Pakarinen, Immonen, Salomaki- Marttinen, Huhtala, J Sallinen, T Sallinen, Savinainen

Switzerland: Berra (Genoni)- Schlumpf, Josi, Brunner, Romy, Moser- Weber, Seger, Ambuhl, Cunti, Hollenstein- Kukan, Blum, Schappi, Stancescu, Rufenacht- Grossman, Pluss, Froidevaux, Fiala, Suri

Referees: Frano, Jerabek, Dremelj, Dahmen, Schrader, Hull

1st period
	05:14
	19:17
1st intermission
2nd period
	32:26
	35:52
2nd intermission
3rd period
	41:57
	56:35
After 3rd period
Overtime
	60:16
before shootout
Shootout

after shootout