Sweden remains atop Group B

Press Release

Winners of each of their opening games, Switzerland and Sweden squared off in the evening game at Shayba Arena, the Swedes getting their second big win in a row with a 6-0 shutout. 

 

In what was a penalty-filled affair, but only Sweden was able to find the back of the net as the Swiss had no answer for goaltender Jonas Johansson, who has allowed just one goal in two games so far at the 2013 U18 World Championship.

The Swedes gained the upper hand early on in the game, striking for their first goal five seconds after taking a penalty with just under a minute into the game. Victor Ohman made a pass into the Swiss zone to Leon Bristedt, who fired a precise wrist shot that caught goaltender Ludovic Waeber deep in his net for the short-handed goal.

Ludovic was eventually chased from the net, after goals from Oskar Lindblom and William Nylander on the power play, prompting Swiss head coach Manuele Celio to make the switch to Nicola Aeberhard.

The Swiss had a few opportunities to close the gap, especially late in the period when Sweden twice had two players in the penalty box, including a game misconduct on Adam Brodecki for checking a Swiss player into the boards, but couldn’t get enough pressure on the Swedish net.

Sweden pushed its lead to 4-0 in the second period, thanks to a rebound effort from Lindblom who picked up his second goal of the game. Penalties, even those against the other team continued to hurt the Swiss, who gave up a second short-handed goal in the third period, this time from Anton Karlsson. Robert Haag added a final goal, on the power play this time, to seal the 6-0 rout.

Switzerland will be in tough in its next game on Monday against undefeated Canada. On Sunday Sweden faces Slovakia, which has dropped both of its first two games.


 (Nathan can be reached at nathanfournier@mainehockeyjournal.com)