OTTAWA – Switzerland got off to a great start, outshooting Sweden 10-2 at one point. But it didn’t take long for the Swedes to take control, ultimately winning the game 7-5 on Sunday.
Sweden will look to secure the top spot in Group A on Tuesday when they play Czechia at 12:00 PM ET, while Switzerland will hope to avoid the relegation round with a win against Kazakhstan earlier that same day.
Despite being on the backburner early, the Swedes did manage to score the first goal. Tom Willander would convert at 6:52 on the power play, taking Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s feed to make it 1-0. Switzerland answered back six minutes later when Kimo Gruber’s shot deflected off Theo Lindstein and in, but Zeb Forsfjall scored on Sweden’s third shot of the game to make it 2-1 on the very next shift. Otto Stenberg would cap off the period with a 3-1 goal, also coming on the power play.
The second period was dominated by the Swedes, who outshot Switzerland 19-7. Christian Kirsch took over from Elijah Neuenschwander but had a rough go himself, allowing goals to David Granberg, Victor Eklund and a second to Willander.
Switzerland had a wild second period, bringing themselves within two goals. It all started when Kimo Gruber capitalized on the man advantage. But Axel Sandin Pellikka’s third point of the game restored the five-goal advantage for Sweden to finish their scoring. Leo Braillard had two and Andro Kaderli would add one for the Swiss on the power-play, but it was far too late to make any type of comeback.
Sweden
#16 Felix Unger Sorum, RW (Carolina Hurricanes): I love Unger Sorum. He’s just so dynamic as a two-way player and rarely makes mistakes with the puck. He had a pair of assists, and while he didn’t register a shot on goal, he always seemed engaged around the Swiss net. His ability to find ways to positively affect the play without having the puck makes him a fascinating prospect.
#27 David Granberg, RW (Undrafted): Granberg is typically known for his two-way play and solid frame back home. Right now, he’s up to six points in three games. His playmaking has been on display, something that hasn’t been as effective against men. It feels like he’s moving better than when I’ve seen him in recent years; he’s getting where he needs to be more consistently and quicker.
#25 Otto Stenberg, LW (St. Louis Blues): Stenberg was one of Sweden’s better defensive forwards today, but the goal on the power play late in the first was nice, too. Stenberg played all situations for the Swedes and appeared to be the team’s primary play-driver on the rush – as expected. This felt like the best game of the week for him.
#24 Tom Willander, D (Vancouver Canucks): Hard to beat a two-goal night. The Boston University defenseman was dialed in, with both shots coming from the point through clean chances. He also was solid on the penalty kill, often keeping Switzerland’s top unit to the outside. This was my favorite game of his since the pre-tournament bout against Germany – it felt like Willander was Sweden’s best all-around blueliner. He had an assist late in the third for good measure.
#4 Axel Sandin-Pellikka, D (Detroit Red Wings): With a goal and two assists today, Sandin-Pellikka put himself tied with Jakub Stancl for first in tournament scoring with seven over three games. ASP is now three goals behind Juha Jyrkkio’s effort in 1977 for the most goals by a defenseman and just one behind Matus Chovan and Maxim Goncharov for the most in the 21st Century.
Switzerland
#26 Eric Schneller, D (Undrafted): Is it safe to say Schneller has been Switzerland’s best player in this tournament? He scored a breakaway goal against the Czechs a few days ago and then led Switzerland in shots tonight. With some of Switzerland’s top defenders struggling – most notably Leon Muggli – Schneller has picked up the slack as an all-around offensive defender with good hockey IQ.
#12 Kimo Gruber, C (Undrafted): Gruber came alive in the third period, scoring a goal and two assists on the power play. Even as a fourth-liner, Gruber clearly knows how to activate in open space. He has an excellent shot and wasn’t afraid to get physical with some of Sweden’s tougher players.
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