SUI 2:1 CZE | Switzerland - Czech Republic (World Championship)

World Championship

Russia – USA	3:8 (end)	\|	Switzerland – Czech Republic	2:1 (end)	\|	Finland – Slovakia2	4:3 (end)
Canada2 – Sweden2	2:3 (1:2 after SO)

final

Switzerland

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

Czech Republic

Thursday 16.05.2013, 14:45 • World Championship

		Thank you for following the game with us! Two more quarterfinal games left this evening! Have a look at our schedule for more information! (16:53:30)
		The Czech Republic played a lot more aggressive than their Swiss counterparts in the last 20 minutes but couldn't force more than one goal and lost 2-1 in the end against the tournament's surprise team Switzerland who now have 8 wins in 8 games and will face the USA in the semifinals on Saturday! Shots on goal: Switzerland 7 (32) – Czech Republic 14 (34)
	60:00	Game over.
	59:58	Huge chance for Voracek from short distance but Gerber keeps the puck outside!
	59:37	Reto Suri (Switzerland) gets two minutes for delaying the game.
	59:38	Timeout by the Czechs!
	59:38	Vrbata with a shot from the left circle that was blocked by Hertl and then went over the crossbar.
	58:52	Pavelec now is out of the net!
	58:30	2-on-1 counter by the Swiss but the last Czech defender is in between. Pavelec still in his net.
	57:45	Another long clearance by the Swiss and only a question of time until Pavelec leaves his net for an additional skater.
	56:12	Huge turnover inside the neutral zone and break away opportunity for Radim Vrbata whose deke from short distance was blocked to the side by Gerber! What a huge opportunity for the Czechs!
	55:50	Several distance shots by the Czechs did not bring any danger. Hard to say if they can force the equalizer in the remaining time.
	54:15	Looks like Switzerland have changed their tactics. They now are playing with very early pressing already inside the Czech third.
	52:58	Nice combination between Plekanec and Hudler but in the last moment Gerber made an interception.
	52:10	Finally an attack by the Swiss again but the shot from the left circle goes wide.
	50:35	Long clearance by the Swiss and their penalty is over.
	49:28	Michalek from the blue line, no problem for Gerber.
	49:01	Shot by Zidlicky from the right wing, blocked by a defender.
	48:35	Severin Blindenbacher (Switzerland) gets two minutes for tripping. The power play comes almost in a perfect moment for the Czechs.
	48:00	For the first time in this game the Swiss defense actually looks nervous. They have huge trouble to get the puck out of their own third.
	47:02	Easy glove save for Gerber.
	46:45	With the momentum on their side the Czechs go hard for the equalizer!
	45:29	Goal for Team Czech Republic! The Czechs kept the pressure high and were rewarded by ZDENEK KUTLAK in power play! A cross-pass just in front of the Swiss net he received at the left post and fired teh puck into the left bottom corner from short distance – no chance at all for Gerber and now we have a hockey game again! Assisted by Tomas Plekanec and Jakub Voracek.
	44:06	Reto Suri (Switzerland) gets two minutes for hooking. The Czechs are 0 for 3 so far this afternoon.
	42:51	Two consecutive icings by Czech Republic.
	41:23	Another dangerous shot on goal by the Swiss just when the Czech penalty was about to expire.
	40:34	Two dangerous shots by the Swiss already from a half right position but no danger for Pavelec.
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		In a weak middle period Switzerland used one of their few chances to double their lead in power play. The Czechs tried a lot to get back into the game but failed to create real danger. To be honest, it doesn't really look like the Czechs would be able to turn around the match against today very efficient Swiss players. Shots on goal: Switzerland 15 (25) – Czech Republic 12 (20)
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:34	Zbynek Michalek (Czech Republic) gets two minutes for holding.
	38:32	Dangerous shot by Martin Hanzal from the right circle towards the right bottom corner, good save by Gerber.
	37:15	The Czechs try to increase the pressure but the Swiss defense continues to be very efficient.
	35:00	After doubling their lead the Swiss again wait for counters. It can be a very successful tactics today.
	33:08	Goal for Team Switzerland! In power play the Swiss double their lead – 2-0 now after ROMAN JOSI received the puck on the right circle and fired the puck past Pavelec! Assisted by Ryan Gardner and Raphael Diaz.
	32:41	After a Swiss blue line shot Pavelec allowed a rebound which he then blocked!
	31:49	Petr Hubacek (Czech Republic) gets two minutes for roughing.
	29:42	Zbynek Michalek with a harmless shot from the right wing into the gloves of Gerber.
	29:09	Simon Moser set the Czech defense under pressure and won the puck but his shot went wide.
	27:28	Icing by Switzerland just before the Czech penalty was about to expire.
	26:59	Blue line shot by Diaz, goes wide past the left post.
	25:29	Jiri Tlusty (Czech Republic) gets two minutes for high-sticking. He hit Andres Ambühl in the face with his stick. The first power play for Switzerland this afternoon.
	25:09	And another icing. The Swiss play it very easy once more. When the pressure gets to high, they rather make a long clearance and cause an icing than risking a big scoring chance for the Czechs.
	25:01	Icing by Switzerland.
	24:50	Radim Vrbata tries it with a shot from within the slot, easy glove save for Gerber.
	23:40	The Swiss favourites let the Czechs make the play currently while they wait themselves for counter attacks.
	22:47	Back hand attempt by Jiri Novotny from short distance but he only hits the chest of Gerber.
	22:25	Icing by Czech Republic.
	21:52	The Swiss are back at full strength.
	21:00	The Swiss fans among the few hundred spectators in Stockholm are very enthusiastic and support their team well.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		In an even period with few but good scoring opportunites on both sides, the result is 1-0 for Switzerland after an early goal by Denis Hollenstein. Shots on goal: Switzerland 10 – Czech Republic 8
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:52	Julian Walker (Switzerland) gets two minutes for tripping. Already the third power play for the Czechs this afternoon.
	19:31	Blue line shot by the Czechs at height of the right wing, no danger.
	18:11	The Swiss are back at full strength. Their penalty killing was excellent in the last two minutes.
	17:46	Harmless shot by Raphael Diaz just after crossing the blue line, easy glove save for Pavelec.
	17:14	Offside call against Czech Republic.
	17:00	Long clearance by the Swiss.
	16:11	Mathias Seger (Switzerland) gets two minutes for tripping.
	13:42	Czech team captain Jiri Novotny tried it himself with a shot in a 2-on-2 attack but was denied a goal from short distance by Gerber!
	12:04	3-on-2 attack by Switzerland but they miss the net from short distance.
	11:30	A very open game is developing right now. Both teams show great hockey of their attacking lines.
	09:44	Huge break away opportunity for the Swiss but Reto Suri who had just come back from the penalty bench was stopped in the 1-on-1 by Pavelec who stayed calm and made a pad save in the last moment!
	09:33	The Swiss are back at full strength.
	09:05	Fast passing by the Czechs inside the Swiss third and the puck comes to Tomas Fleischmann who waited at the right post but missed the puck...
	08:30	One-timer by Zbynek Michalek from close to the left circle but his shot went wide.
	07:33	Reto Suri (Switzerland) gets two minutes for roughing. It's the first penalty of the game.
	07:13	Wrap-around try by a Czech forward, just kept outside by a Swiss defender who cleared the situation for his already beaten goalie Gerber!
	06:45	Two-line pass by the Czechs.
	05:45	Goal for Team Switzerland! After a fast 2-on-3 attack DENIS HOLLENSTEIN scored from short distance after Pavelec allowed a rebound! Early lead for Switzerland! The Swiss had a perfect pass towards the blue line from within the neutral zone and then the puck came towards the right circle from where a pass came back to the slot. What a play! Assisted by Reto Suri and Severin Blindenbacher.
	04:45	Blue line shot by the Czechs at height of the right wing but the Swiss defense blocked the puck. In the following counter attack Switzerland almost scored the lead!
	04:00	Both teams had their first shots on goal already but by now without creating a lot of danger.
	02:30	Very even start into the match between Switzerland and Czech Republic.
	00:01	Game started.
		Starting lineups: Switzerland: Gerber (Berra) – Vauclair (A), Seger (C), Von Gunten, Josi, Blindenbacher, Furrer, Diaz – Niederreiter, Plüss (A), Moser – Ambühl, Suri, Gardner – Cunti, Bodenmann, Hollenstein – Trachsler, Bieber, Walker – Monnet. Czech Republic: Pavelec (Francouz) – Židlický, Čáslava, Michálek (A), Šmíd, Hejda, Nakládal, Kutlák – Fleischmann, Plekanec, Tlustý – Hudler, Hertl, Voráček – Vrbata (A), Hanzal, Koukal – Hubáček, Novotný (C), Irgl – Tenkrát. Referees: Olenin (RUS), Vinnerborg (SWE) – Dahmen (SWE), Schrader (GER)
		After winning all their 7 group stage matches Switzerland are the clear favourites in the quarterfinal match against Czech Republic whom they also beat 5-2 during the group stage and who earned their playoff spot just in the last match against Norway (7-0). The winner of this match will face the USA – who had an impressive 8-3 win earlier today against Russia – in the semifinals.
		Welcome. Game starts at 08:45 EDT / 13:45 GMT / 14:45 CET.

Commentary by

Dennis Mende

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 6. Hollenstein (Suri, Blindenbacher), 34. Josi (Gardner, Diaz) – 46. Kutlak (Plekanec, Voracek)

Switzerland: Gerber (Berra) – Vauclair (A), Seger (C), Von Gunten, Josi, Blindenbacher, Furrer, Diaz – Niederreiter, Plüss (A), Moser – Ambühl, Suri, Gardner – Cunti, Bodenmann, Hollenstein – Trachsler, Bieber, Walker – Monnet.

Czech Republic: Pavelec (Francouz) – Židlický, Čáslava, Michálek (A), Šmíd, Hejda, Nakládal, Kutlák – Fleischmann, Plekanec, Tlustý – Hudler, Hertl, Voráček – Vrbata (A), Hanzal, Koukal – Hubáček, Novotný (C), Irgl – Tenkrát.

Referees: Olenin (RUS), Vinnerborg (SWE) – Dahmen (SWE), Schrader (GER)

1st period
	05:45
	07:33
	16:11
	19:52
1st intermission
2nd period
	25:29
	31:49
	33:08
	39:34
2nd intermission
3rd period
	44:06
	45:29
	48:35
	59:37
Final