The Swiss received the quarter-final towards Germany in Ostrava 3-1. Your look is a superb freedom, not for the coach. Now his staff is trusted to do something.
Nico Hischier scored Switzerland’s second aim within the quarter-final towards Germany.
A quarterfinal spherical? Germany advanced? No massive recreation staff? What will be stated and written earlier than this quarter-final within the Ice Hockey World Championship within the Czech Republic. Indeed, all of the issues that accompanied the nationwide ice hockey staff and its coach at this stage of the essential competitors within the World Cup had a purpose: the dangerous expertise of the earlier video games.
National coach Patrick Fischer’s staff has misplaced a vital recreation towards the Germans within the play-off stage thrice within the final six years. There was additionally a 0-1 loss in Mannheim within the spring of 2010, which nearly appears to be from a unique period of ice hockey. It was the primary match after the Krueger period, when Sean Simpson took over the staff.
But historical past solely repeats itself for the uneducated. From that Mannheim staff, solely Andres Ambühl, Roman Josi and Nino Niederreiter are nonetheless within the Czech Republic this spring. It is a singular Swiss staff; Swiss ice hockey is in a unique place in worldwide rankings. The coach may even depart the NHL participant, Philipp Kurashev, on the sphere within the quarter-final of the World Cup. Jonas Siegenthaler (New Jersey Devils), just lately rested, is again within the lineup.
There is not any hint of Swiss panic
There had been no indicators of panic, a minimum of within the first third. It wasn’t the Swiss, however the Germans who began the sport in a really dangerous method. After simply 13 seconds, Kai Wissmann needed to go to the penalty field for excessive cruelty. Early discharge had no impact. Harold Kreis, the German coach who performed properly for Switzerland in Lugano and the ZSC Lions, requested his staff to not danger pointless penalties towards a proficient Swiss aspect. Therefore, Wissmann’s launch was an indication of over-motivation or panic on the German aspect.
His fall had no penalties, nevertheless the Swiss took the lead quickly after. Christoph Bertschy, who’s counted in numbers, escaped within the eighth minute and hit the German goalkeeper Philipp Grubauer on the shoulder. This aim was not reasonable for the Seattle Kraken goalkeeper.
Grubauer is one among 4 NHL gamers on the German staff. Even with out the excess Kurashev, the Swiss had six on the rating sheet (together with second goalkeeper Akira Schmid). But throughout the board, the Swiss had extra high quality of their staff than their opponents. The Germans confirmed their well-known confidence within the build-up to the sport. He takes on any opponent, they are saying.
But there have been additionally two defeats of 6-1 towards Sweden and the USA within the group stage which factors to the failure of the protection. The Germans didn’t have their greatest gamers out there within the Czech Republic. They needed to do with out Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton), Tim Stützle (Ottawa) and Moritz Seider (Detroit), amongst others. It was much more shocking that they shined within the first spherical with a dominant energy play and glorious capturing efficiency.
But there was no signal of that towards Switzerland. The Swiss had been environment friendly. Nico Hischier made it 2-0 within the seventeenth minute, and had Calvin Thürkauf’s shot hit the publish as an alternative of the publish, the much-anticipated quarter-final would have been determined after the primary third. The Swiss and their coach Patrick Fischer could not do it with out shaking and enjoying. In the center the staff quickly misplaced the thread. The Swiss get themselves into bother with pointless penalties. SCB striker, Dominik Kahun, used one among them to attain the subsequent aim.
And who is aware of what would have occurred if Kahun had scored from the publish not lengthy after. Who cares? The query stays open. Because this time the sport was not for Germany, however for Switzerland. Bertschy tied the sport 57.6 seconds earlier than the top together with his second aim, this time on Germany’s empty internet. The goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni stated after the sport: “Ten minutes in the past there was no actual hazard in entrance of our targets. We wished this victory, we wished to return to Prague.”
They did that on Saturday and can meet once more with the Canadians within the semi-finals (from 6:20 p.m.), who misplaced to them for the one time within the match to this point within the group stage (2:3). Either method, loads of strain is off, not just for the staff, but in addition for his or her coach Patrick Fischer. Who is aware of how a lot his contract extension would have value in February if his staff had not recovered from a 2-0 lead within the semi-finals. Fischer appeared equally relaxed after the sport. Now we have fun one thing first after which proceed to take pleasure in it.
It’s not simply Roman Josi, Kevin Fiala or Nino Niederreiter who make the distinction
His staff is now trusted to do something. The method he performed within the quarter-finals in Ostrava was convincing. And above all, the staff confirmed that it isn’t solely Roman Josi, Kevin Fiala or Nino Niederreiter who could make a distinction. The method Bertschy determined the sport confirmed a excessive degree. He did not simply shoot the puck and danger icing it and face off in entrance of his aim. After the sport, the person from Freiburg stated: “I simply wished to recover from the pink line, after that we knew possibly it might be sufficient.”
Staying within the second was essential, Bertschy stated. They wished to neglect what occurred previously years and eliminate the historical past of shedding the ultimate towards Germany. Now a giant probability to play for the medals beckons. In the final 5 video games, the Swiss haven’t conceded a aim in 5 to five video games. This is greater than an excellent basis for what follows. The Swiss haven’t come near a medal since profitable silver in Copenhagen in 2018.