Switzerland keeps on winning

Norway had the chance to qualify for the quarter finals and send the Czechs out of the tournament but Switzerland made another great performance at this game and took their sixth consecutive win never really leaving Norway with any chance at all.

After exchanging attacks with eachohter for the first few minutes of the game it was Switzerland who took the lead after six minutes. A hard shot from Martin Plüss was stopped by Haugen's pads and Simon Moser showed great balance when he managed to shot the puck at goal facing the other direction and some how the puck find it's way into the goal bouncing between Haugen's pads.

Switzerland had most of the play after the goal but when Norway got a power play their fans had hopes of an equalizer but instead Switzerland got a counter attack and had the guts to with three guys on it and after a drop by Ambühl and a shot by Suri the rebound went straight out to Josi who came as the third man and he easily lifted it in to the halfopen net.

Switzerland continued to play their very solid ice hockey just as earlier and the tournament and didn't give many chances in this game. Norway got three straight power plays but it was Andres Ambühl who had the best chance when got a breakaway and almost scored Switzerland's second shorthanded marker.

After killing the penalties Switzerland took over the game completely and also scored 3-0 with 25 seconds left of the second period when Patrick von Günten scored on the power play. A goal that really hurt Norway as also Ole Kristian Tollefsen seemed to be hurt on the play after blocking a shot.

Norway gave them a chance to come back into the game when Ole-Kristian Tollefsen found the net from the blueline after some pressure on another power play. But despite the goal and a short five on three power play later Norway were never close to come back as Switzerland just was the better team tonight.

"We need to work harder", Norway's Patrick Thoresen said. "We lost almost all duells".

On a side note it seems very strange by the IIHF to appoint a Czech referee to a game that could send the Czechs out of the tournament. Not that it hadn't any impact on this just but as is just opens up for speculations especially as Norway already has been dissappointed with suspensions on their players by the IIHF.

Norway will now play a decisive game against the Czech Republic on Tueday for the last quarter final ticket. Norway will need to improve until then but it will be a lot of nerves in that game so everything can happen. Switzerland will play Belarus to remain unbeaten and win the group.

"We still have it all in our own hands and we beaten them before", Marius Holtet said about the upcoming game. "We took a point of them last year and are on the same level."

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