Group B: Switzerland’s ice hockey players scored for the first time at the World Cup, but defeated Slovakia 4:2

Update: 18.05.2023 22:09

Riga – The hockey players of Switzerland conceded their first goal in the fourth match at the World Championship in Riga, but in the end they defeated Slovakia 4:2 and won the fourth match in Group B. The winning goal was scored by Christian Marti in the 47th minute. The Slovaks lost for the third time in the tournament and are fifth, but now they have to face the teams that are behind them in the table.

The Swiss used two more reinforcements from the NHL for the first time in the match – defender Siegenthaler and forward Hischier from New Jersey, who immediately participated in the first goal. Although Miranda threatened at first, Siegenthaler opened the scoring in the 6th minute, who shot past goalkeeper Hlavaj from the blue line.

The Slovaks, whose lineup was missing their most productive player Cehlárik, who was injured, then created several promising opportunities. But they didn’t beat goalkeeper Mayer.

The players from the country of the Helvetic Cross then did not use two power plays, but in the 25th minute they increased the lead by two to one after a successful renumbering. Niederreiter beat Hlavaj. The Slovaks were able to respond in a flash, 21 seconds later Kudrna, who was playing for the first time in the tournament, took down. The Swiss conceded for the first time at the World Cup and after 205 minutes and eight seconds.

The Swiss were significantly more active with shots, Malgin, Haas and Simion, who was weakened, got into promising positions and was stopped only at the cost of a foul by Pánik. In the subsequent penalty shootout, however, Hlavaj was successful against Fial. The favorite subsequently regretted it even more, as Regenda equalized with a quick finish 31 seconds before the end of the second period.

The key moment of the match came in the 47th minute, when Marti’s shot from the blue line was unfortunately deflected by defender Ivan. The Slovaks tried to equalize on the power play, but conceded the fourth goal.

Group B (Riga):

Switzerland – Slovakia 4:2 (1:0, 1:2, 2:0)

Goals and assists: 6. Siegenthaler (Malgin, Hischier), 25. Niederreiter (Ambühl), 47. Marti (Richard), 60. Haas (Miranda, Simion) – 26. Kudrna (Kelemen, Pánik), 40. Regenda (Okuliar) , Priestess). Referees: Holm (Sweden), MacFarlane (USA) – Nothegger (Austria), Ondráček (CZ). Exclusion: 2:3. Usage: 0:1. Viewers: 4840.

Assemblies:

Switzerland: Mayer – Kukan, Siegenthaler, Moser, Glauser, Marti, Loeffel, Geisser, Fora – Fiala, Hischier, Malgin – Niederreiter, Corvi, Ambühl – Miranda, Haas, Simion – Herzog, Richard, Ch. Bertschy. Trener: Fisherman.

Slovakia: Hlavaj – P. Koch, Nemec, Kňažko, Grman, Rosandič, Ivan, Gajdoš, Jánošík – Pánik, Hrivík, Kelemen – L. Hudáček, M. Sukeľ, Kudrna – Chromiak, Tamáši, Regenda – Okuliar, Čacho, Lunter. Coach: Ramsay.

Table: