Swiss stun Canada at Worlds, will play Czechia for gold
Switzerland upset defending champion Canada 3-2 in a shootout on Saturday at the World Championship to advance to the gold-medal game against host Czechia.
Sven Andrighetto notched the shootout winner.
Sven Andrighetto scores the shootout winning goal in the 4th round of the shootout!
- TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 25, 2024
They advance to face Czechia in the gold medal game. pic.twitter.com/j8jUBLTQYR
Swiss goalie Leonardo Genoni stopped Dylan Cozens in the fifth round to secure the victory.
SWITZERLAND IS OFF TO THE GOLD MEDAL GAME!#CANSUI#MensWorlds @SwissIceHockey pic.twitter.com/cFiL2KsNcN
- IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 25, 2024
Switzerland jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period off a pair of power-play goals from Kevin Fiala and Nino Niederreiter. Fiala uncorked a lethal one-timer before Niederreiter deflected home Roman Josi's point blast two minutes later.
Canada finally solved Genoni late in the second period with a greasy net-front goal by Brandon Tanev to cut the lead in half. Captain John Tavares slung one five-hole on the power play with two minutes left in regulation to force overtime.
Both teams had power plays during the 10-minute, three-on-three overtime but failed to capitalize. Connor Bedard was the only Canadian to score in the shootout.
Genoni was sensational in the game, stopping 42 of 44 shots in the victory. The 36-year-old has never played professionally in North America but owns a wealth of experience overseas and on the international stage. Entering Saturday, he owned a .926 save percentage and a 1.94 goals-against average in 39 career games at the World Championship.
Switzerland has never won the tournament in its 86-year history. It won silver three times in 2018, 2013, and 1935.
Canada won the tournament in 2023 and was looking to win back-to-back gold medals for the first time since 2015-16.
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