After leading 2-0, Switzerland lost 3-2 aet to Sweden in Stockholm. It was Henrik Tömmernes who offered the victory to his colors.
A defeat certainly, but a very good warm-up match for Switzerland. If Nando Eggenberger at the end of the match and Timo Meier, in extra time, had been more realistic, the selection of Patrick Fischer would have won this game.
This match was above all an opportunity to take advantage for the first time of the contribution of Nico Hischier and Timo Meier who will be, as in Riga last year, the spearheads of the Swiss offensive. The two men did not take too long to find their marks since Meier opened the scoring in the 9th on a pass from Hischier. And there, the San Jose Sharks forward demonstrated why he was one of the NHL’s top scorers by sending the puck into Marcus Högberg’s top corner.
Patrick Fischer’s players created the best chances for themselves by Christoph Berstchy who missed a face-to-face, then by Damien Riat, magnificently served by his line mates Hischier and Meier. We also found these men just before the first break on a power play which brought the 2-0. The Devils captain won the engagement and then the puck passed from Meier to Riat for Janis Moser who saw his deflected shot beat the Swedish keeper five seconds from the siren.
The national team was able to hold this score following forty minutes. Even following 47 minutes. But the indiscipline hurt the Swiss who conceded two goals on Swedish power plays. It was first Emil Bemström who was able to reduce the mark (48th), then in the 53rd the equalizer fell from the cane of Canucks defender Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Note that Reto Berra, very busy during the game, let the puck slip away following having slowed him down.
Switzerland benefited from a power-play in the 56th and it took very little for Eggenberger to score the winning goal in the 57th. But the right post of Högberg refused this goal. Rebelote at the very beginning of extra time with Meier who stumbled on the Scandinavian goalkeeper. Then on a phase well controlled by the Tre Kronor, it was the Genevan Henrik Tömmernes who put an end to this match.
What is encouraging for Switzerland is that Pius Suter, Jonas Siegenthaler and Denis Malgin did not play. Same thing for Dario Simion and Fabrice Herzog who have been announced, but who are entitled to a few extra days of rest (and celebration) following the title with Zug.
Switzerland will complete their preparation on Sunday at 12 noon once morest the Czech Republic, still in Stockholm.
/ATS