Switzerland clinical shut out of Norway and Finland’s stunning three-goal comeback against Canada set the stage for an all-European gold medal clash in Zurich this Sunday.
The gold medal game is officially set at the IIHF World Hockey Championship in Switzerland, and it is going to be an all-European clash on Sunday.
Saturday’s semifinal matchups in Zurich delivered a mix of home-ice perfection and a stunning powerhouse collapse. Here is how the final four shook out.
Semifinal Game 1
Switzerland 6, Norway 0
Switzerland Goals: Christoph Bertschy, Denis Malgin, Ken Jager, Damien Riat, Nico Hischier, Theo Rochette
Norway Goals: None
Game Matchup: Leonardo Genoni (WIN) vs. Tobias Normann (LOSS)
Game Notes: The fairytale run for Norway officially hits a brick wall against the host country. Norway hung around early, keeping it close until Bertschy broke the ice late in the first period. From there, Switzerland entirely took over as Norway’s discipline completely came unravelled. The Swiss poured it on with three goals in the second frame, including a power-play marker from Riat. Hischier and Rochette finished things off in the third, while Genoni cruised to an easy 20-save shutout in front of a rocking crowd in Zurich to set up a gold medal showdown with Finland.
Semifinal Game 2
Finland 4, Canada 2
Finland Goals: Patrik Puistola, Aleksander Barkov, Konsta Helenius, Aatu Raty
Canada Goals: Robert Thomas, Dylan Holloway
Goalie Matchup: Justus Annunen (WIN) vs. Jet Greaves (LOSS)
Game Notes: A massive second-period collapse sinks Canada as Finland scores three unanswered to flip the game on its head. Canada actually controlled the first frame despite Puistola scoring early. Thomas swatted one out of the air to tie it, and Holloway stayed hot by catching a Celebrini aerial pass to put Canada up 2-1. Everything went sideways in the second. Barkov tied it 49 seconds in, and then Helenius and Raty scored just 1:22 apart to put Finland up for good. Annunen stopped all 15 shots he faced in the third to send Canada to the bronze medal game against Norway.
