Finland – USA 3:2 (after OT) | Switzerland – Sweden2 3:2 (end) | Slovakia2 – Russia 1:2 (end)
Czech Republic – Canada2 0:4 (end)
final
Switzerland
3:2 (0:1, 2:1, 1:0)
Sweden2
Monday 05.08.2013, 15:30Hlinka Gretzky Cup
     
    Welcome. This game starts at 15:30 CEST, 09:30 EDT.
     
    Switzerland and Sweden play the first game in the Breclav group, and both teams are on the ice for the pre-game warmups. Switzerland is wearing white uniforms with red trim, black helmets and pants. Sweden is wearing blue uniforms with yellow trim, blue helmets and pants.
     
    The national anthems have been played and the opening faceoff is moments away.
     
    Starting Lineups:

    Switzerland: Descloux (Fehr) – Harlacher, Klopfer, Karrer, Siegenthaler, Maurer, Kindschi, Gurtner – Meier, Suter, Riat – Rod, Malgin, Fiala – Schmidli, Privet, Kessler – Trisconi, Ritz, Meyer – Schläpfer.

    Sweden: Eriksson (Soderström) – Lagesson, Englund, Aho, Andersson, E. Johansson, Ollas Mattsson, Forsling – Elgestal, Holmström, Törnqvist – Nylander Altelius, Karlsson, Lindblom – Kempe, Franzén, Karlsson – Timashov, Muzito Bagenda, Olofsson – Kovacs.

    Referees: Jeřábek, Hradil – Blümel, Gebauer.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    00:15
    Sweden's William Lagesson gets the game's first shot, a looper from the point that hits Descloux's glove and goes to the corner.
     
    00:23
    Icing Switzerland.
     
    00:52
    Swedes putting on the early pressure, as expected, the puck comes out of the corner to the side of the net, Descloux puts a glove on it to get a whistle.
     
    01:48
    Tino Kessler gets Switzerland's first shot, a wrister on a 2-on-2 rush that hits Eriksson in the blocker and goes into the corner.
     
    02:15
    Puck goes out of play in the Swiss zone, faceoff inside.
     
    02:35
    More pressure from Sweden's top line, back out for their second shift. Another save Descloux, who might have to be solid tonight if the Swiss have a chance.
     
    03:13
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    It's been all Sweden so far, and the second line scores the first goal. William Nylander Altelius circled the net and passed in front to FILIP KARLSSON, who one-timed a low shot through Descloux. Assist: William Nylander.
     
    04:30
    The Swiss now trying to mount some pressure. One shot attempt was blocked, but they maintain control in the Swedish zone.
     
    05:14
    Sweden back to the attack again, Emil Johansson's shot from the point hits a stick in front and deflects wide.
     
    05:56
    Offside Sweden.
     
    06:20
    2-on-1 Sweden, Nylander elects to shoot and Descloux makes a blocker save.
     
    07:21
    Now play is stopped behind the Swiss net for a hand pass against Sweden, so the faceoff comes outside. The Swiss really have their hands full with Sweden right now, though.
     
    07:30
    Now Switzerland's Edson Harlacher gets the game's first penalty for slashing. Sweden to the power play.
     
    07:48
    The Swiss PK gets a faceoff in the Swedish zone, as Pius Suter takes a long shot that Jesper Eriksson has to smother.
     
    08:01
    Now the puck deflected out of play in the Swiss zone. Faceoff inside with 1:29 left in the penalty.
     
    08:25
    Switzerand's Andy Ritz with the nice effort on the PK, blocks a shot and then ices it . . .
     
    09:30
    Switzerland back at full strength, but Sweden continues to buzz in their zone.
     
    10:05
    Swiss rush, Pius Suter with a wrister from a weak angle that hits the side of the net.
     
    11:43
    Big bodycheck by Swedish captain Anton Karlsson, who comes up with the puck on the play but then ices it. Faceoff back in the Swedish zone.
     
    11:46
    Quick shot right off the draw hits Eriksson and he holds on for another faceoff.
     
    12:30
    Switzerland's Timo Meier levels Adam Ollas Mattsson with an open-ice hit near the blueline. This game starting to get physical.
     
    13:03
    Swedes now going back to the power play as Noah Rod gets called for charging.
     
    13:50
    Big chance for Sweden on the power play, Karlsson was set up alone in front and seem to have Descloux down and out but slid the puck just wide of the post.
     
    14:28
    More Swedish pressure, Descloux finally covers it in heavy traffic as the net gets dislodged. :35 left in the penalty.
     
    15:12
    Switzerland gets an odd-man rush up the ice as the penalty expires. Out of the box, Rod takes the past and fires a wrist shot just wide.
     
    15:48
    The Swiss keep the pressure up, Eriksson makes a glove save to stop play.
     
    16:42
    Icing Switzerland.
     
    17:16
    The Swiss will now get their first ppower play as William Lagesson gets called for tripping along the boards. He doesn't like the call, but nonetheless . . .
     
    18:29
    Swiss power play goes offside with :47 left in the penalty. They have yet to get a shot on this advantage.
     
    18:50
    Cedric Maurer finally gets the first Swiss shot on the power play, a wrister from the top of the circle that hit Eriksson, then was loose in the slot for a while before finally cleared.
     
    19:07
    Swiss will get a 2-man advantage for :08 as Sweden's Kevin Elgestal clears the puck over the glass and out of play.
     
    19:17
    The puck is deflected out of play in the Swedish zone. One penalty is over, faceoff inside.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    It was all Sweden early on, but Gauthier Descloux made some nice saves, and several shots were blocked as well. Later on, the Swiss started to mount a bit of offence of their own, but Sweden was definitely the more dominant team of the first period. Shot total not announced yet.

    2nd period begins at 16:14 CEST, 10:14 EDT.
     
    Teams are on the ice and the 2nd period will begin shortly.
     
    The Swiss begin the 2nd period still on the power play, as Kevin Elgestal still has 1:08 left in his delay-of-game penalty.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    20:50
    The best chance for Switzerland so far, Timo Meier with the shot from the slot and Eriksson makes a big pad save in the butterfly.
     
    21:51
    Sweden back at full strength but more pressure from Switzerland--big start to the 2nd period for them. Eriksson forced to cover the puck under pressure.
     
    22:50
    Hand pass against Sweden in the neutral zone. Faceoff back to the blueline.
     
    23:04
    A strong shift from Swiss 4th line, Andy Ritz with the high wrister that Eriksson catches and holds.
     
    23:30
    Now Sweden with possession in the Swiss zone--a lot of crashing in the corners, no shots for the Swedes yet this period.
     
    24:03
    Adrian Kempe with a backhand attempt that hits a stick and goes over the glass. Swedes still without a shot this period, faceoff in the Swiss zone.
     
    24:30
    Impressive rush from the speedy Kevin Fiala of Switzerland, beats two players but unable to get a shot in the end.
     
    25:15
    And now a Swiss 2-on-1 and Jesper Eriksson makes a huge save on Tino Kessler. What's happened this period? Total reversal from the first period.
     
    25:21
    Now a Swiss shot deflected out of play in the Swedish zone. Faceoff inside.
     
    25:21
    Sweden calls a timeout, and it's not surprising the way they've played to start this period. Switzerland all over them.
     
    25:54
    Defenceman Emil Johansson with Sweden's first shot of the period, a wrister from the point that Gauthier Descloux saw all the way and gloves easily.
     
    26:40
    Icing Sweden on a missed pass. They really seemed in sync that first period and something seems missing now.
     
    27:33
    Offside Switzerland.
     
    27:53
    Swedes start to mount some pressure, Descloux makes a pad save and covers with Elgestal on the doorstep.
     
    28:09
    Icing Switzerland.
     
    28:15
    Right off the draw, Karlsson with a quick wrister, pad save Deslcoux and the puck is cleared.
     
    28:26
    Goal for Team Switzerland!
    The Swiss finally tie the game. The puck is centered to DENIS MALGIN, whose one-timer beats Eriksson just inside the post. Assist: Noah Rod.

    Swedish defenceman Emil Johansson was slow to get up after the goal and needed assistance from the trainer. I didn't see what happened to him.
     
    29:05
    Swiss back to the attack after the goal and Sweden's William Nylander Altelius takes a slashing penalty. He seemed like the best player on the ice in the first period but Sweden strangely seems to be coming unglued this period.
     
    29:55
    Shot from the point by Harlacher hits Eriksson in the arm, and the Swiss get the puck back . . .
     
    30:43
    And now, wouldn't you know it, Sweden again called for delayin the game as penalty-killer Axel Holmstrom clears the puck high over the glass. Swiss 5-on-3 for :22.
     
    31:10
    Sweden now down only one man, Swiss keep up the pressure.
     
    32:30
    Shifty Kevin Fiala once again weaving through traffic, his low shot hits Eriksson in the pad.
     
    33:00
    Swedes now back to full strength and they'll try to regroup from what has been a disastrous second period so far.
     
    33:12
    Puck out of play in the Swedish zone, faceoff inside.
     
    33:19
    Icing Sweden.
     
    34:10
    Emil Johansson, injured earlier in the period, sneaks in from the point and one-times a pass that Descloux had to be sharp on. Sweden's best chance to far this period.
     
    35:57
    Offside Sweden.
     
    37:30
    Slapper from Maurer deflected in front and goes dangerously wide.
     
    37:53
    Goal for Team Sweden!
    The puck comes from behind the net out front to FILIP KARLSSON, who is unchecked and has an easy tap-in. Assist: William Nylander Altelius.
     
    38:04
    Goal for Team Switzerland!
    Right off the faceoff, Sweden turns over the puck in the neutral zone and SIn Schlapfer jumps on it, enters the zone and finds NOELE TRISCONI, who waits for Eriksson to commit and fires it under the crossbar to tie the game just 11 seconds later. Assist: Sin Schlapfer.
     
    39:15
    Jesper Eriksson bails his team out again.
     
    39:27
    And Eriksson makes another save and covers. The shots have been very one-sided in favour of Switzerland this period.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    A head-scratcher of a second period here in Breclav. Sweden has to be glad that after playing that bad they're still tied going into the third period. As for the Swiss, they seemed in awe of the Swedes in the early going of the game but were a totally different team that middle frame, much more composed. We'll see which teams show up in the third period.

    3rd period begins at 17:00 CEST, 11:00 EDT.
     
    The teams are on the ice and the 3rd period will begin shortly.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    40:27
    Swiss going to the power play early in the third as Adrian Kempe is called for cross-checking in the neutral zone, it was also interference. He argued the call, but there wasn't much doubt about it.
     
    40:37
    Offside Switzerland.
     
    41:06
    A chance for the Swedish PK unit, Descloux covers it with 1:21 left in the penalty.
     
    41:40
    Goal for Team Switzerland!
    The Swiss take the lead on the power play. After Eriksson makes a couple of saves, TIMO KESSLER puts in the rebound. Assist: Cedric Maurer, Simon Kindschi.
     
    42:33
    Switzerland's Dario Meyer called for holding in his own zone, Sweden to the power play.
     
    42:56
    Sweden is now going to have a lengthy 5-on-3 as Damian Riat gets the gate. They need to get something going now.
     
    44:00
    Another delayed penalty coming to Switzerland, Sweden controls.
     
    44:17
    After all it seems we're going to get coincidental penalties. Pius Suter gets slashing and Nylander Altelius gets tripping. One penalty is over so Sweden's advantage is down to one.
     
    45:20
    Switzerland's second penalty is now over, so we're playing 4-on-4 now.
     
    45:49
    Icing Sweden.
     
    46:40
    Dangerous shot from the slot by Nylander Altelius, blocker save Descloux.
     
    47:52
    Kevin Elgestal with a high wrister that Descloux knocks down. Sweden starting to generate chances again.
     
    48:40
    After a brief scuffle the referee is handing out off-setting roughing minors to Fiala of SUI and Johansson of SWE, so we'll have 4-on-4 hockey for the next two minutes.
     
    50:19
    Karlsson with a big slapper, blocked in front, and Descloux finally dives on a loose puck at the side of the net. :21 left in the coincidental minors.
     
    50:30
    Adrian Kempe's shot attempt is deflected out of play, faceoff in the Swiss zone.
     
    51:49
    Switzerland's Timo Meier strips a Swedish defender of the puck but he's called for slashing on the play. Another big chance coming up for Sweden.
     
    53:14
    A scramble in the Swiss zone and it looked like that shot from in close by Anton Karlsson went behind Descloux, off the post, and out the other side.
     
    53:53
    Just as the penalty ends, the Swedes try to whack away at it in the crease but Descloux holds on.
     
    54:12
    Icing Sweden.
     
    54:35
    After some more Swedish pressure, Kevin Fiala is going back to the box for closing his hand on the puck. That was close to the crease, so he's lucky it's not a penalty shot.
     
    55:25
    Pius Suter gets a shorthanded chance, Eriksson makes a pad save on his spinarama backhand attempt.
     
    56:11
    A shot attempt by Karlsson gets blocked and Descloux dives on the loose puck in front. :24 left in the penalty.
     
    56:40
    Switzerland has killed off another penalty, and they clear the zone . . .
     
    57:54
    And now an undisciplined penalty to Sweden's Adrian Kempe for cross-checking, his second undisciplined penalty this period. Swedes seem really frustrated right now and this puts them in a bad situation.
     
    58:00
    Torqvist just about gets loose for Sweden but Descloux makes a big stick save. Nice play by the defenceman too.
     
    58:28
    Wrister from Maurer knocked down by Eriksson.
     
    59:07
    Suter hits Eriksson with a shot in the chest then digs for the rebound, the whistle goes. The Swiss killing time and keeping the puck far from their net.
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    Players of the Game:

    SWE Axel Holmstrom, SUI Denis Malgin.
     
    I don't think many who watched the first period would have expected this result, but the Swiss were utterly dominant in the 2nd period and then took the lead on the power play early in the 3rd. From there, Sweden had chances, but the Swiss were more disciplined.

    Switzerland takes the first 3 points in the Breclav group, with 3 more up for grabs later today between the Czech Republic and Canada. (17:35:39)

    Derek OBrien

    Goals and assists: 29. Malgin (Rod), 39. Trisconi (Schlappfer), 42. Kessler (Maurer, Kindschi) – 4. F.Karlsson (NylanderAltelius), 38. F.Karlsson (NylanderAltelius)


    Switzerland: Descloux (Fehr) – Harlacher, Klopfer, Karrer, Siegenthaler, Maurer, Kindschi, Gurtner – Meier, Suter, Riat – Rod, Malgin, Fiala – Schmidli, Privet, Kessler – Trisconi, Ritz, Meyer – Schläpfer.
    Sweden2: Eriksson (Soderström) – Lagesson, Englund, Aho, Andersson, E. Johansson, Ollas Mattsson, Forsling – Elgestal, Holmström, Törnqvist – Nylander Altelius, Karlsson, Lindblom – Kempe, Franzén, Karlsson – Timashov, Muzito Bagenda, Olofsson – Kovacs.

    Referees: Jeřábek, Hradil – Blümel, Gebauer