1CA 5:0 SUI | Canada2 - Switzerland (Olympics - Women)

Olympics - Women

USA – Finland

3:1 (end)

Canada2 – Switzerland

5:0 (end)

final

Canada2

5:0 (2:0, 3:0, 0:0)

Switzerland

Saturday 08.02.2014, 14:00 • Olympics - Women

		Thank you for following this and the morning game between USA and Finland with us! For the coverage of other Olympic hockey games, have a look at our schedule! We're back with women's hockey group B tomorrow! (16:12:51)
		The Swiss team gave a good fight in the last period and avoided a debacle. Especially their brilliant goalie Florence Schelling with big, big saves kept the game a lot closer than it appeared on the ice! Shots on goal: Canada 21 (69) – Switzerland 6 (14)
	60:00	Game over.
	58:24	2 on 1 situation for Canada in front of the Swiss net but the cross pass by Melodie Daoust for Gillian Apps doesn't get through...
	56:38	Break away for Natalie Spooner who misses the net to the right instead of passing the puck to the left where her team mate waited!
	55:47	Almost a break away for Switzerland. Whenever they appear in the Canadian third the whole arena can be heared!
	55:15	A fast counter of the Swiss team almost leads to a goal when a pass from the right wing was deflected by the skates of Meaghan Mikkelson but her goalie Charline Labonte was there with the quick reaction!
	55:04	Jennifer Wakefield's shot from the blue line goes straight into the glove hand of Florence Schelling who continues to convince today! Surely an MVP of the game candidate!
	54:13	After a big crash one of the Swiss players has to return to the bench for further treatment. She was hit in the neck area and they want to check if she has a concussion or something else to worry about.
	53:22	Meghan Agosta gets a break away after a nice pass inside the neutral zone and with great puck handling she forces her way towards the net but Florence Schelling, the Swiss goalie, stops her. The rebound then comes to Natalie Spooner who is also denied a goal from short distance!
	51:47	Natalie Spooner tries everything to get the puck past Florence Schelling but despite several shots from short distance she can't beat her.
	51:18	On the other side of the ice a Swiss counter opportunity also ends with an offside call when Anja Stiefel skated into the Canadian third too early.
	51:05	Gillian Apps skates into the offside.
	50:12	Nina Waidacher is able to escape from her guard but her shot from the left circle is stopped easily by Labonte.
	48:47	Weak pass by Lauriane Rougeau back to the Swiss blue line and the puck ends up inside the neutral zone.
	47:05	In this third period it almost looks like Canada would have a constant power play – only that this is not the case.
	46:52	A blue line shot causes no trouble for Schelling who gets a pad save.
	45:40	The Canadians play with very high speed currently but somehow they lack efficiency now.
	43:52	After a turnover at the Swiss blue line there was a 3 on 1 situation for Canada but they weren't able to get Florence Schilling out of position with their fast passes and in the end the Swiss goalie was able to block a shot to the side!
	42:44	Double chance for Canada. First a wrap-around was blocked by Schelling and then the rebound came to Laura Fortino who tried it with a fast shot from the left circle which was also stopped by the Swiss defense!
	41:22	Strange situation by Meghan Acosta. She skated behind the Swiss net and didn't find a team colleague in a good passing position and suddenly she lost the puck on her way to the blue line and almost allowed a counter attack.
	40:52	The Swiss offense causes a lot of trouble in front of the Canadian net but in the end the North Americans are able to clear the situation!
	40:01	Start of 3rd period.
		Switzerland started well-organized into the middle period but a fast shorthanded goal by Hayley Wickenheiser after a big mistake in the Swiss defense gave Canada their dominance back. Goals by Marie-Philip Poulin and Rebecca Johnston even made it 5-0 after 20 minutes. Shots on goal: Canada 19 (48) – Switzerland 5 (8)
	40:00	2nd period finished.
	39:44	A sharp cross-pass by Janya Hefford goes just wide at the second post...
	38:00	Of course the biggest excitment is gone out of the game and from now on the goal for Switzerland can only be to keep the result as low as possible!
	37:31	A one-timer by Meghan Agosta from within the slot is blocked by the stick of a Swiss defender and the chance is gone.
	36:10	Goal for Team Canada! REBECCA JOHNSTON deflects a pass by Marie-Philip Poulin from the left circle into the net from short distance. Florence Schelling touched the puck but had trouble to controll it and in the end it crossed the goal line! Assisted by Marie-Philip Poulin.
	35:04	Jennifer Wakefield received the puck inside the neutral zone and went for a big solo but close to the left circle she was stopped by the last defender.
	33:43	Another icing by Switzerland. The Europeans seem to have a bit condition problems due to the high speed hockey of Canada.
	33:03	A wrap-around attempt by Jennifer Wakefield is denied by Florence Schelling with a pad save!
	32:28	Timeout by Team Switzerland!
	32:28	Goal for Team Canada! The Canadians play it with all their class and score the most beautiful goal of the young tournament! A 3-on-1 attack with a high-speed passing combination ended with a one-timer goal by MARIE-PHILIP POULIN into the right bottom corner from short distance! No chance at all for Florence Schelling! Assisted by Jayna Hefford and Rebecca Johnston.
	32:06	A long clearance by the Swiss team ends with an icing call against them.
	31:42	Melodie Daoust receives a pass from behind the net but her one-timer from within the slot goes straight into the glove hand of Florence Schelling.
	31:02	Break away for Hayley Wickenheiser but this time she misses the net to the right!
	30:40	Icing against Canada. After "half time" of the match it's still "only" 3-0. A reward for the hard work of the Swiss women.
	28:06	Phoebe Stanz with a shot from the right circle, hits the crossbar! No chance to react in time for Canadian goalie Charline Labonte!
	27:48	Double chance for Switzerland after an individual effort by one of their forwards but both times Labonte made a pad save!
	26:58	Icing by Switzerland. The Europeans are looking a bit nervous after the third goal against.
	26:08	Rebecca Johnston with a shot from the left circle towards the left top corner but Schelling makes the glove save.
	25:09	The Canadians are back at full strength though it never looked like they were a woman short and they even scored shorthanded!
	23:54	Goal for Team Canada! Incredible mistake by Swiss defender Nicole Bullo who tried to give a back hand pass to her team mate inside the own third but instead the puck ended just in front of HAYLEY WICKENHEISER who used the following break away to beat Florence Schelling for the 3-0 shorthanded! Without assist.
	23:09	Lauriane Rougeau (Canada) gets two minutes for high-sticking. This will give Switzerland their first power play of the game.
	22:53	Blue line shot by the Canadians but blocked by a defender.
	22:20	A nice solo by Jennifer Wakfield over the right wing but after coming over the right circle she isn't able to beat Florence Schelling from short distance.
	20:45	It's a rather slow begin in this middle period.
	20:01	Start of 2nd period.
		Canada as the tournament favourites left Switzerland no chance in the first period – as expected – and were the completely dominating team but only were able to make it 2-0 despiete a series of high-class scoring chances and 29-3 shots on goal. Only a wonder can get the Swiss women back into the game! Shots on goal: Canada 29 – Switzerland 3
	20:00	1st period finished.
	19:18	The Swiss women are able to keep the puck in the neutral zone which is already good news for them.
	18:19	Lara Stadler receives the puck close to the Canadian blue line and tries her luck against two defenders but is pushed away from the net when she goes for the wrap-around!
	17:27	Nobody attacks Rebecca Johnston after a pass from behind the net and she deflects the puck towards the left bottom corner but Schelling makes the pad save!
	17:03	3 on 2 attack for Switzerland but Anja Stiefel skates into an offside position.
	16:32	Brianne Jenner with a back hander from short distance but Schelling makes the pad save! What a great game by the Swiss goalie!
	15:47	Although they barely get the chance to attack their opponents themselves, the Swiss team seems to have stabilized a bit in defense!
	15:35	Again Jenner with a chance, this time with a shot from within the slot, but Schelling blocks the shot.
	15:24	Brianne Jenner with a one-timer from just right to the net but Florence Schelling is able to make a pad save!
	14:29	Double chance for Canada following a blue line shot and the Swiss defense can only clear the situation with the heavy use of physical strength.
	13:47	Lara Stadler (Switzerland) gets two minutes for slashing. Second power play for Canada. So far they are 0 for 1.
	13:29	A long pass towards the Canadian blue line can't be stopped by a Swiss forward and the situation ends with an icing call.
	12:37	Brianne Jenner with a wrap-around and Schelling is able to strech and keep the puck out of the left bottom corner with her right skate!
	11:59	Gillian Apps almost deflects a shot from the right wing through the legs of her team mate and into the Swiss net but Florence Schelling is there with a save. Afterwards again Sarah Forster went for a heavy discussion with Apps. Team Switzerland won't give up without a fight!
	10:37	Harmless shot by Team Switzerland from the left wing but its one for the stats – their first at this Olympic tournament and Switzerland's Sarah Forster almost provoked a little fight with several Canadians.
	10:00	After half of the first period has been played the shots on goal are 15-0 in favour of Canada. More dominance is barely possible at this level of hockey.
	09:04	The Swiss team is back at full strength after good penalty killing.
	08:44	Blue line shot by Ward into the gloves of Schelling.
	08:27	Catherine Ward finds Hayley Wickenheiser at the left circle but her one-timer misses the net to the left!
	07:48	Laura Fortino with a pass to Rebecca Johnston inside the slot but the following one-timer is cleared by Schelling!
	07:04	Sandra Thalmann (Switzerland) gets two minutes for interference. This will be the first power play for Canada in this game.
	06:30	Goal for Team Canada! The Swiss defense leaves their opponents just too much space. First Rebecca Johnston overskates a long pass but gives a beautiful no look pass to her team mate Jana Hefford who misses the puck from short distance just in front of Schelling. Just afterwards Rebecca Johnston had the puck again and this time TARA WATCHORN was there to use the rebound to make it 2-0! Assisted by Rebecca Johnston
	05:49	Melodie Daoust wins the battle for the puck on the left wing and has a lot of space after coming from the left circle but fails to beat Schelling with a shot from short distance towards the right bottom corner!
	04:08	Schelling with the next good situation when she pokes away the puck just next to her goal!
	03:15	Horrible defending by the Europeans allows Canada a 3 on 1 rush and only a huge portion of luck and a good Florence Schelling avoid a one-timer goal by Janya Hefford from short distance just right to the net!
	02:42	Gillian Apps tries it with a shot from the left wing but she only hits the chest of Schelling.
	01:25	Goal for Team Canada! A blue line shot by Jocelyne Larocque goes through the crowd in front of the Swiss net and beats Schelling after just 1:25! The expected dominance by Canada! Assisted by Natalie Spooner.
	00:59	Stanz has the first shot towards the net for the Swiss team but it is blocked.
	00:19	Canada with a very aggressive start, already with a triple chance and Swiss goalie Schelling has to throw her body into a shot towards the right top corner! Big save!
	00:01	Game started.
		The teams are already on the ice. Canada plays completely in black while Switzerland plays in white and black jerseys.
		Starting lineups. Canada: Labonte (Szabados) – Ward, Watchorn, Rougeau, Fortin, Larocque, Mikkelson – Johnston, Hefford, Poulin – Agosta-Marcian, Wickenheiser, Spooner – Wakefield, Apps, Daoust – Ouellette "C", Jenner. Coach: Kevin Dineen. Switzerland: Schelling (Anthamatten) – J. Marty "C", Frautschi, Stalder, Bull, Forster, L. Benz, Altmann – S. Marty, S. Benz, Waidacher – Müller, Stiefel, Stanz – Thalmann, Raselli, Lutz – Nabholz, Eggimann. Coach: Rene Kammerer. Referees:
		If there is one team that is dominating international women's ice hockey, then it's Team Canada. The Canadians won gold medals during the last three Olympic Winter Games (2002, 2006 and 2010) and at World Championships they gained 10 gold and 5 silver medals – but only 2 championships in the last 7 years. The only realistic rivals for them are Team USA who they faced in every (!) of the 15 World Championship finals and 3 of the 4 Olympic gold medal finals. Earlier today the Americans started with a 3-1 win against highly anticipated Fins and placed themselves on the first position in group A. Team Canada for sure wants to get this first position by beating dangerous underdogs Switzerland in the second game of Group A this afternoon. The Swiss women celebrated their biggest success when they won the bronze medal at the 2012 IIHF World Championship. A qualification for the semifinals is the goal for the Europeans also this time but for a direct qualification (1st or 2nd spot in group A) they would need to beat either Canada or the USA. If Canada gets the expected win or if Switzerland can get a huge surprise, we'll see very soon!
		Welcome. Game starts at 08:00 ET / 14:00 CET / 17:00 MSK which is also the local time in Sochi.

Commentary by

Dennis Mende

Goals & lineups Match log

Goals and assists: 2. Larocque (Spooner), 7. Watchorn (Johnston), 24. Wickenheiser, 33. Poulin (Hefford, Johnston), 37. Johnston (Poulin)

Canada2: Labonte (Szabados) – Ward, Watchorn, Rougeau, Fortin, Larocque, Mikkelson – Johnston, Hefford, Poulin – Agosta-Marcian, Wickenheiser, Spooner – Wakefield, Apps, Daoust – Ouellette "C", Jenner. Coach: Kevin Dineen.

Switzerland: Schelling (Anthamatten) – J. Marty "C", Frautschi, Stalder, Bull, Forster, L. Benz, Altmann – S. Marty, S. Benz, Waidacher – Müller, Stiefel, Stanz – Thalmann, Raselli, Lutz – Nabholz, Eggimann. Coach: Rene Kammerer.

Referees: Hove (NOR) – Hanrahan (USA), Kúdel (SVK).

1st period
	01:25
	06:30
	07:04
	13:47
1st intermission
2nd period
	23:09
	23:54
	32:28
	36:10
2nd intermission
3rd period
Final