Czech Republic – Italy veterans 2:0 (end) | Switzerland – Germany2 3:2 (end) | Slovakia2 – Norway 5:2 (end)
Russia – Kazakhstan 7:2 (end)
final
Switzerland
3:2 (1:1, 2:1, 0:0)
Germany2
Wednesday 14.05.2014, 15:45 • Minsk Arena, Minsk • World Championship
     
    There's the final buzzer, and in a nervy encounter the Swiss have registered their first points of the tournament with a 3-2 victory over Germany! They were unconvincing at times, but their superior class was the difference. Damien Brunner opened up the scoring before Thomas Oppenheimer equalised for Germany, but the Swiss then pulled clear through goals from Denis Hollenstein and Kevin Romy and held on to their lead despite another Oppenheimer effort. Thanks for following the game with us, and join me again soon today for Russia against Kazakhstan at the 2014 IIHF World Championships! (17:56:17)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:57
    The puck is still moving everywhere inside the Swiss zone but there are only a few seconds left already!
     
    59:28
    Reto Berra makes an excellent sprawling save as a low stinging effort came in off the faceoff draw
     
    59:24
    And Germany have now taken a timeout, they have to score with practically their next shot
     
    59:24
    Barta! What a miss from Alexander Barta, he just had to score that! Reto Berra gives up a juicy rebound on the slot, but when it seems impossible to miss Barta hooks the puck over the bar!
     
    58:59
    Germany have now pulled Rob Zepp in favour of the extra skater!
     
    58:10
    Time is starting to run down on Germany and the Swiss are doing a good job of trapping the puck in their opponents' zone
     
    56:47
    Just after Andres Ambhul managed to dump the puck deep into the German crease, a wraparound attempt coming in from the right is stopped at point blank range by Rob Zepp! The Swiss need that fourth goal to feel more comfortable
     
    56:25
    Alexander Weiss now cracks a wrist shot in from the high slot that gets deflected well clear. Germany are putting really good pressure on now!
     
    55:00
    Barta! What a move from Germany and what a chance! Flowing cohesive passing finds Alexander Barta completely open at the right post, but he contrives to only hit Berra! You don't get many better chances than that!
     
    53:46
    Marcel Noebels lurking on the slot tries as best as he can to distract Reto Berra, but he still manages to grab hold of a low teasing wrister from the blue line
     
    53:14
    Germany hold the puck in the Swiss zone for a prolonged amount of time, swing it to the right where Justin Krueger decides to get a shot away but near post it's comfortable for the goaltender
     
    51:57
    Leon Draisaitl drives in the puck stick side, only for the netminder to play it around the boards. The Swiss are looking certainly better than they did at the beginning of the match
     
    51:01
    The tricky Alexander Barta swings the puck into the slot from the left, but none of his teammates are there and Berra dives and freezes
     
    50:28
    Rob Zepp moving behind his net to sweep away the loose puck only just doesn't get poached!
     
    48:54
    Denis Hollenstein holds the puck up and glides right around the net, but he can't find anyone on the crease
     
    47:53
    Switzerland most certainly came closest to scoring on that German powerplay and they're now back to full strength
     
    47:23
    Ambuhl! Shorthanded Andres Ambuhl bullies his way past his defenders on to the slot from the left hand boards, he just can't poke it past Rob Zepp but Zepp makes an even better save from Thomas Rufenacht on the rebound!
     
    45:53
    Simon Moser for high sticking has given Germany an ideal opportunity to keep the heat on for two minutes
     
    44:35
    Thomas Oppenheimer looking for a hat trick draws his stick back slapping hard from the right in space, but it's directly down Berra's throat
     
    44:05
    Noebels! What a move from Marcel Noebels! Cutting into the crease wonderfully tricking on the right flank he looks to go the backhand, but Reto Berra brilliantly shuts the door! That looked certain to be the equaliser!
     
    44:01
    The Germans have survived that scare and they're back to full strength
     
    43:37
    The puck trickles its way to the doorstep but Luca Conti's goalbound looking effort is charged down just in time!
     
    42:30
    Brunner! The ever dangerous Damien Brunner winds up for a heavy slapper from the left, it takes a sharp deflection and looks to come off the near post!
     
    42:01
    Not for long though. Frank Mauer is again the guilty party, this time for slashing
     
    41:36
    The Germans looked pretty solid during that penalty and they're back to full strength already
     
    41:07
    The puck is slapped very hard from the blue line but Rob Zepp just stretches enough with his right pad to send it clear!
     
    40:01
    The third and vital period is underway with the Swiss on the powerplay for 01:36
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play-

    Shots on target- 15-17
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 15-12
    Penalty minutes- 4-4
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:36
    For interference though Frank Mauer has most probably put the Swiss on the powerplay for the start of the third period, with just seconds left in the second stanza
     
    38:52
    Goal for Team Germany! It seemed that the game was getting away from them but no, the Germans are back in it! Off a clever behind the net pass THOMAS OPPENHEIMER is found completely open on the slot and he makes no mistake! It's 3-2! Assists- Sinan Adkag and Kai Hospelt
     
    37:49
    Rufenacht! You can feel the Swiss confidence! Yet again down that left flank Thomas Rufenacht holds the puck away from his opponents, cuts sharply to the crease and Rob Zepp does well to eventually dive on it!
     
    36:27
    Goal for Team Switzerland! Their class is just starting to tell! Damien Brunner makes simply a wonderful tricky stake to the net on the left, he expertly feeds KEVIN ROMY on the doorstep who sweeps home! It's 3-1! Assists- Damien Brunner and Simon Moser
     
    35:49
    Hollenstein! Denis Hollenstein looking for his second today slaps the puck into the goalkeeper's pads from the left flank!
     
    35:27
    Both teams exchange very quick and dangerous attacks! Finally this game is coming to life!
     
    32:28
    Barta! The Germans could have again drawn level immediately! Alexander Barta completely free on the right slaps the puck into the midriff of Reto Berra!
     
    32:13
    Goal for Team Switzerland! Just as they start to get their game together they go ahead for the second time today! DENIS HOLLENSTEIN with a ripper of an effort into the left hand corner from the high slot hits the net! It's 2-1! Assists- Roman Josi and Luca Cunti
     
    31:38
    Hollenstein! He should have scored there surely! The Swiss have another two on one, Denis Hollenstein one times it from the left of the crease but Zepp makes a super save near post!
     
    30:27
    Stancescu! Battling inside and around all of his opponents at the high slot Victor Stancescu makes Rob Zepp make a very agile right pad save!
     
    29:40
    The Swiss move offiside. Their attack has looked rather blunt so far, their combination play just isn't working
     
    28:56
    Alexander Barta twisting past his opponent on the right wrists very high on goal, but Berra makes a nice looking glove save. Both teams are once again struggling to hold on to the puck
     
    26:33
    Kevin Fiala with a lot of bodies in front him takes an early wrist shot on, but stick side Rob Zepp freezes
     
    26:11
    Schutz! The Swiss defence is well out of position on the left flank as Felix Schutz charges in clean through, but his wrister near post is gathered by Reto Berra!
     
    25:54
    Switzerland ice the puck just as Germany were looking to get settled in the zone
     
    24:22
    Switzerland escape on a two on one but the final pass to the left hand post is just deflected away in the nick of time! Both teams are once again playing in an aggressive manner
     
    21:23
    Markus Kink on a pacy German counterattack takes up the puck, fires in low but Reto Berra through traffic still gets a piece of it
     
    20:21
    What a chance there for Switzerland! The German defence gets in a right mess playing the puck across their own crease, and Rob Zepp somehow stops it going over the line as a mad scramble ensued!
     
    20:42
    The second period gets going with Germany on the powerplay for a further 42 seconds
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period-

    Shots on target- 5-9
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 8-4
    Penalty minutes- 4-2
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:58
    The puck is bouncing all around the Swiss crease very dangerously as the opening period draws to a close
     
    19:11
    Barta! Alexander Barta exactly inside the left faceoff circle lets a huge slapper go that Reto Berra at the second attempt gathers!
     
    18:42
    Luca Cunti for boarding has received a late penalty and the Germans have an ideal chance to take the lead here
     
    17:48
    Most of the play is still taking place center ice, both sides are playing really aggressive hockey
     
    17:01
    Reto Suri makes a purposeful skate down the right flank, takes a low wrist shot on early into the near post but Rob Zepp kicks it wide to get his confidence back a bit
     
    15:46
    That was the perfect response from the Germans! They have been far the better side so far and the Swiss despite their goal still can't get going at all
     
    13:54
    Goal for Team Germany! They didn't deserve to go behind and they've already drawn level! As a hard slapshot from the point pops out to the left hand post, THOMAS OPPENHEIMER stuffs it home! It's 1-1! Assists- Frank Hordler and Kai Hospelt
     
    12:17
    Goal for Team Switzerland! With their first real chance the Swiss strike! DAMIEN BRUNNER is set up at the high slot, he wrists in on net with no real pace but Rob Zepp lets it run right through him and into the net! Powerplay goal and it's 1-0! Assists- Roman Josi and Yannick Weber
     
    11:08
    Yannic Seidenberg for interference has given Switzerland a chance to finally make Rob Zepp work in the German net
     
    09:48
    Germany drift offside. They are certainly seeing more of the puck, even if they aren't having too many efforts on goal
     
    08:51
    Rieder! Again down the left there's an opening, Tobias Rieder skates in with pace, strikes looking for the near post but Reto Berra deflects it wide!
     
    07:41
    Seidenberg! Yannic Seidenberg is the first to have a real clear shooting opportunity, from the left faceoff circle he wrists in on net but only into the netminder's chest!
     
    06:46
    Alexander Weiss skating into the left hand boards backhands the puck at height across the crease, but Reto Berra comfortably sweeps it up
     
    05:16
    Both teams are finding it very hard to stay in the attacking zone for a decent period of time, the goalkeepers have barely had anything to do as yet
     
    03:12
    The Swiss didn't have too much trouble to deal with however and they're back at full strength
     
    02:05
    Daniel Pietta cuts into the high slot, wrists high looking for the left hand corner but Reto Berra sticks it wide!
     
    01:12
    Reto Suri for charging has picked up an early penalty against his name for the Swiss
     
    00:46
    Straight away the Swiss cause a brief moment's panic on the Germany crease! But they eventually manage to clear
     
    00:23
    This crucial Group B encounter is go!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now emerging out on to the ice and it's almost time to get underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Switzerland: Berra (Geoni)- Schlumpf, Josi, Brunner, Romy, Moser- Kukan, Blum, Schappi, Cunti, Hollenstein- Weber, Seger, Ambuhl, Fiala, Suri- Ramholt, Grossman, Froideveaux, Stanescu, Rufenacht

    Germany: Zepp (Aus Den Birken)- Ankert, Braun, Mauer, Barta, Schutz- Kohl, Hordler, Hospelt, Oppenheimer, Weiss- Akdag, Krueger, Kink, Seidenberg, Pietta- Reul, Plachta, Draisaitl, Rieder, Noebels

    Referees: Patafie, Rantala, Jerabek, Kilian, Semjonov.
     
    Switzerland got their tournament going with a heavy 5-0 defeat to Russia, and they then lost narrowly both to the USA 3-2 and to the host nation Belarus 4-3. The Germans started excellently, beating Kazakhstan 2-1 after penalty shots and Latvia 3-2, before coming back down to earth losing 4-0 to Finland.
     
    Here are the Group B standings before the game gets going.

    1. RUS W3 L0 GS 15 GA 3 PTS 9
    2. USA W2 L1 GS 10 GA 9 PTS 6
    3. LAT W2 L1 GS 10 GA 9 PTS 6
    4. BLR W2 L1 GS 9 GA 10 PTS 6
    5. GER W2 L1 GS 5 GA 7 PTS 5
    6. FIN W1 L2 GS 8 GA 7 PTS 3
    7. KAZ W0 L3 GS 6 GA 11 PTS 1
    8. SUI W0 L3 GS 5 GA 12 PTS 0
     
    The Swiss last year shocked everyone by making it all the way to the final of this tournament, but this year things aren't quite going so smoothly, especially after a poor Olympic tournament in Sochi. Germany is rather an up and coming hockey nation, but they are becoming much more well respected by everyone.
     
    Good afternoon and welcome to this 2014 IIHF World Championship Group B match between Switzerland and Germany. This will surely turn out to be one of the key battles in the race for the qualification spots, and this should be a very interesting encounter.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 15:45.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 13. Brunner (Josi, Weber), 33. Hollenstein (Josi, Cunti), 37. Romy (Brunner, Moser) – 14. Oppenheimer (Hordler, Hospelt), 39. Oppenheimer (Adkag, Hospelt)

    Switzerland: Berra (Geoni)- Schlumpf, Josi, Brunner, Romy, Moser- Kukan, Blum, Schappi, Cunti, Hollenstein- Weber, Seger, Ambuhl, Fiala, Suri- Ramholt, Grossman, Froideveaux, Stanescu, Rufenacht
    Germany2: Zepp (Aus Den Birken)- Ankert, Braun, Mauer, Barta, Schutz- Kohl, Hordler, Hospelt, Oppenheimer, Weiss- Akdag, Krueger, Kink, Seidenberg, Pietta- Reul, Plachta, Draisaitl, Rieder, Noebels
    Referees: Patafie, Rantala, Jerabek, Kilian, Semjonov
    Attendance: 11628