Czechia defeated Switzerland to grab their second straight bronze medal at the IIHF World Championships.
BRAMPTON, Ontario -- Denisa Krizova scored two goals -- including the game-winner -- and had an assist as Czechia successfully defended its bronze medal at the IIHF Women's World Championship.
Krizova scored the go-ahead goal 17:16 into the second period. Czechia's Blanka Skodova finished with 13 saves, including three in the final period to preserve the win.
The victory gives Czechia its second bronze in as many years. Prior to 2022, the Czechs had not finished higher than sixth place at the senior level.
"Today was a massive step in understanding we deserve to be here," Czechia head coach Carla McLeod said.
Krizova gave Czechia the lead for good with 2:44 remaining in the second period. After Aneta Tejralova escaped a check by Switzerland's Sarah Foster along the boards, she teed up a one-timer for Krizova, who scored on Swiss netminder Andrea Braendli from the right circle.
"I got a really nice pass from Anita," Krizova said. "I was just happy that it went in for us."
The Swiss got into penalty trouble early, taking three in the first 10 minutes of the contest. But when Czechia's Katerina Mirazova went off for cross-checking midway through the period, Lara Stalder quickly took advantage.The Swiss captain got her team on the board with a power play tally at 11:15. Stalder collected a loose puck in the slot, deked around Dominik Laskova and shoveled a backhand past Skodova.
"I mean they had eight shots, three power plays just off that and we finally get a bounce on our side," Stalder said. "We get a power play going and a lot of emotions were super excited. I thought this could be the turning point against all odds to get that goal. But then, unfortunately, we couldn't hold it defensively to just shut them down."
Krizova would respond with her first of the game just 31 seconds later. Tereza Vanisova carried the puck up ice and when the forward lost control as she cut to the slot, Krizova was there to wrist it past Braendli.
"It was so important," Krizova said. "We were down one goal, and we knew that if we are going to play our game, we'll score right away and we'll just win the game."
Michaela Pejzlova then gave Czechia a 2-1 lead with a shot from the right circle at 14:31 of the first.Switzerland would come back to tie it in the second. Lena Marie Lutz beat out Czechia's Daniela Pejsova behind the net for a loose puck, then scored on a wraparound at 8:09.
Alina Muller nearly put the Swiss ahead on a breakaway minutes later but her backhand hit the crossbar. It ended up being the best scoring chance for the Swiss from there on.
"I think we outplayed them," Vanisova said. "The only thing is we have to learn how to score more goals. I think we were dominating them the whole game. We made it a little bit stressful at the end, so we have to work on that, but I'm proud of the team."
It would be the defensive style McLeod, a two-time Olympic gold medalist as a defender for Canada, instilled in her squad which carried them to victory in the end.Midway through the third period, the Swiss were unable to capitalize on an 84-second 5-on-3, thanks in part to two key blocks by Natalie Mylnkova.
"In tournaments of this structure, short-term competition, you're going to have those key moments and that key moment can go either way," McLeod said. "But, you know, we had done our homework. We obviously got the timeout call in there and we were able to review what we had processed earlier in the day. It just comes down to sheer will. There were some massive blocks there, and that makes a difference."
Switzerland finished fourth for the third straight year. They last medaled in 2014 when they won bronze.
"I'm super proud of everyone," Braendli said. "Congrats to Czechia. They played an awesome tournament. Finland played awesome. It's nice to have them back (in Group A). It's going to be super tough for us next year and we're really looking forward to that. It's going to be another challenge and I'm super proud of everyone."