Olympics men’s hockey: Czechs remain unbeaten after 4-1 win over Switzerland
Czech Republic capped off group play with a victory over Switzerland, remaining unbeaten in Olympics men’s hockey.
Despite its best efforts, Switzerland could not pull off an upset, falling to Czech Republic 4-1 in Olympic men’s hockey.
The score was 1-1 after one, but it was a period of missed opportunities for Switzerland. Czech Republic dominated the opening ten minutes, cashing in with a power play goal from Michal Repik.
An interference called on Czech’s Jan Kovar shifted the momentum, giving the Swiss a chance to answer. 1:27 later, Tomas Zohorna went off for high sticking, giving Switzerland a five-on-three for 33 seconds. The Swiss failed to score with the two-man advantage or the one-man advantage that followed.
Thomas Rufenacht scored eight seconds after the two power plays had expired to tie the game at 1.
A double minor for high sticking on Vojtech Mozik put Switzerland back on the power play for four minutes, but they once again failed to put the puck in the net. The Swiss outshot Czech Republic 14-8 in the period, but the game remained tied.
A back-and-fourth second period saw Switzerland miss another opportunity to take the lead on the power play. The score stayed even at one, setting up a big third period for Czech Republic. With a win, the Czech Republic would secure a bye into the quarterfinals of the tournament.
It took Dominik Kubalik three minutes to break the tie for Czech Republic. Jan Kolar created a turnover with his forecheck, setting up a two-on-one in front of the net. Kovar dished it to Kubalik, who roofed it over goaltender Jonas Hiller, giving the Czechs a 2-1 lead.
Czech Republic would add two more empty net goals, putting the game away and giving those players an extra day of rest.
Czech goaltender Pavel Francouz made 28 saves.
Highlights
PP goal Team #CZE! 1-0
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 18, 2018
Michal Repik with a one-timer from the slot over the arm of Jonas Hiller.#PyeongChang2018 #IceHockey
And the Swiss tie it up, Thomas Rufenacht a one-timer 🚨
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 18, 2018
Not a PP goal, but close. It's 1-1.#PyeongChang2018 #IceHockey
Inmiddels zijn de Tsjechen op een 2-1 voorsprong gekomen tegen Zwitserland! #OS2018 #Olympics #PyeongChang2018 pic.twitter.com/tbZopODFee
— Eurosport Nederland (@Eurosport_NL) February 18, 2018
FINAL SCORE: Team #CZE 4-1 over Team #SUI (including two EN Czech goals), otherwise a tight game here at Gangneung Hockey Centre. The Czechs remain unbeaten. #PyeongChang2018 #IceHockey
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) February 18, 2018
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What’s Next
Czech Republic clinched first place in Group A with this victory, putting it into the quarterfinals of the tournament. Switzerland will have to wait until the final group play games wrap up before knowing who it will face in the opening round of the knockout stage.
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