Russia Wins Group A With 3-2 Win Over Swiss

Russia has secured first place in Group A and a bye to the semifinals after beating Switzerland 3-2 in the final day of preliminary round action at the World Junior A Challenge.

The Russians controlled much of the first period, and it resulted in a shorthanded goal with about three minutes to go. Ivan Morozov, who has been one of Russia’s biggest stars, scored after stealing the puck in the neutral zone and blowing by everybody before making a quick backhand deke, sending it over the Swiss goalie to make it 1-0 Russia.

Near the end of the second, the Russians, well on their way to winning Group A, beat the Swiss again. This time, Nikita Okhotyuk's shot from the power play was too much for Luca Jan Hollenstein, giving the Russians two goals on five shots.

The Swiss looked much stronger in the second, showing tremendous puck control against a stronger Russian team. Kyen Sopa would get the Swiss on the board 15 minutes into the middle frame when he sent a knucklepuck past Amir Miftakhov’s blocker, giving the Swiss a chance with the game closing in on the second intermission.

The pesky Swiss were dangerous, and they scored again to tie the game up in the third in the same way they did against Canada East on Monday. This time, Andreas Dopfner took Lucas Matewa’s pass at centre ice and skated in, fighting off two defenders before making a toe-drag and sniping it over Miftakhov to tie the battle at 7:58.

Dennis Luca Hollenstein was a rock in the Swiss net, with the Zug Academy goalie keeping his team in the game throughout. He had to face many dangerous Russian chances, standing tall with a couple of big stops in the third. Unfortunately, if the Swiss were to avoid coming last in their group, they would need to beat Russia in the game and Canada East on goal differential, meaning they would have to pull their goalie with two minutes to go. It was the dagger for the Swiss, who allowed one with 1:58 left in the game to lose the contest 3-2, a game they probably could have taken to overtime.

With the win, Russia will earn a bye to the semifinals on Thursday, with their opponent to be decided on Wednesday. Switzerland will play on Wednesday in the quarterfinal matchup, with their opponents also to be decided.

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