Less then a minute into the game between Canada and Switzerland, Shea Theodore lobbed a shot at the net that was missed by Akira Schmid. The puck hit the bottom of the crossbar, but dropped straight down and back out into the slot. Just a few seconds later, Switzerland transitioned up the ice in a three-on-one, requiring a snow-angel save from Logan Thompson. The tone was set for a high-event game between the only two teams yet to allow a goal in the tournament.
On a power play five minutes into the period, a pass from Nathan MacKinnon through a seam of three Swiss players found the stick of Connor McDavid, and McDavid was able to force the puck through the pads of Schmid to give Canada a 1-0 lead.
Just a few seconds later, Sidney Crosby went in a breakaway and patiently waited for Schmid to drop to the ice as he went wide. He fired a shot headed for the open space at the top of the net, but a spectacular scorpion-kick save from Schmid kept the puck out of the net.
McDavid got in on the scoring on Canada’s next goal at 14:15. Tom Wilson bumped the puck back to him after gaining the zone, and McDavid hit Thomas Harley on the opposite side of the ice for a shot that Schmid couldn’t get over to block.
Off the centre-ice faceoff following the goal, Bo Horvat was sent off for high-sticking. On the power play, Pius Suter picked up a rebound off the crossbar and reduced the deficit to just one goal.
The play was physical over the final seven minutes, but the intermission arrived with the score still 2-1 in Canada’s favour.
Switzerland received an early power play in the second period as Shea Theodore tripped Nino Neiderreiter following a dump-in. The Swiss had several chances, but couldn’t find the tying goal.
Head coach Jon Cooper loaded up a line of skill and speed with Nathan MacKinnon, Macklin Celebrini, and McDavid following the penalty kill. It paid immediate dividends as MacKinnon set up Celebrini’s second goal of the tournament to give Canada a 3-1 lead.
Already up two goals, Canada’s power play was put back on the ice by Michael Fora’s high stick on Mark Stone. Switzerland did well to kill off the penalty without a truly dangerous chance from the Canadians.
Things got a little heated when Sam Bennett raced toward Nico Hischier looking to land a big hit on the Swiss captain. He missed the bodycheck, but caught Hischier in the face with his stick on the way by, which went uncalled and led the Swiss fans to rain boos, and a few beers, toward the ice.
Canada received another power play as Niederreiter elbowed Travis Sanheim off a centre-ice faceoff. Celebrini fired a one-timer off the post on Canada’s best chance as the Swiss did well to survive another penalty kill.
Schmid made another important stop early in the third period on Seth Jarvis on a breakaway from the blue line. He left his team at least a chance to pull back into the game with the save.
Niederreiter came close to making it a one-goal game, but it was the latest shot to go off the post in the game.
At the other end, a pass from Mitch Marner in the high slot went through the feet of Roman Josi right to the stick of Sidney Crosby, and the captain tipped in the 4-1 goal.
Attempting to throw a hit in the offensive zone, Celebrini ended up taking down J.J. Moser with a trip. Thompson was called upon to make three saves in quick succession to keep the power play at bat. Canada’s speed line was immediately reunited with Celebrini free from the box, and all three played a part in creating the 5-1 goal, scored by MacKinnon on a rebound.
As the game was heading toward its conclusion, Kevin Fiala sustained a gruesome leg injury in a collision with Tom Wilson on the boards. He needed to be taken off the ice on a stretcher, getting stick taps from the players of both teams.
With the win, Canada claimed top spot in Group A by claiming the head-to-head tiebreakers over the two teams that could tie them in points. Those two clubs, Switzerland and Czechia, will meet in the first game on Sunday to determine the second spot. Canada will go on to play France in its final match of the group stage, still with the top overall seed to play for.
