Switzerland has advanced to the IIHF World Championship final for the second consecutive year, decisively defeating Denmark 7-0 in the semifinals on Saturday. This upcoming championship match against the United States is set to take place at 2:20 PM ET on Sunday.
This marks Switzerland’s fourth appearance in a championship final since 2013, although they have yet to secure a gold medal in any tournament format. Historically, they boast a total of 12 medals, comprised of silver and bronze. In contrast, Denmark is still searching for their first medal at the tournament and will aim for a significant upset against Sweden in the bronze medal game.
The semifinal began on a thrilling note for Switzerland, who scored their first goal at 9:23. Nino Niederreiter’s deflection was reviewed but deemed unintentional, allowing the goal to stand. Ken Jager quickly doubled the lead to 2-0 shortly after. Despite several power-play opportunities for Denmark, Swiss goaltender Leonardo Genoni kept them scoreless. Denis Malgin then extended the lead to 4-0 before the game concluded with three additional goals from Sandro Schmid, Damien Riat, and Tyler Moy.
Key performers in the match included Niederreiter, who showed his offensive prowess, and Malgin, who also made solid defensive contributions alongside his scoring efforts. Genoni, the Swiss goaltender, once again displayed his skill, particularly during crucial penalty kills, highlighting his veteran experience.
As Switzerland prepares for the final, there is hope that they might finally clinch their first gold medal, overcoming their past struggles in championship outings. With a formidable lineup and a powerful performance against Denmark, they have the potential to make history on Sunday.