RECAP: Switzerland Defeats Austria with Late Third Period Five-Minute Powerplay

Major implications sat in the balance of Switzerland vs. Austria, as the winner advances to the quarterfinal to face the winner of Canada vs. Finland, and the loser goes home. Neither team has won a game this tournament, and together they have been outscored 30-7. Even so, only one advances and going into the match my money was on Team Switzerland.

Starting goaltenders:

Switzerland: Noah Patenaude
Austria: Sebastien Wraneschitz

Off the bat, I like my Switzerland pick. Through the opening eight minutes, the Swiss held a 5-0 shot advantage and were controlling the game. Austria's collapsing defense in front of Wraneschitz is sturdy; Wraneschitz might be a top-3 goalie in this tournament, quite frankly. Undrafted, he sported a 2.16 GAA and .907 SV% in 18 games for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.

With Switzerland unable to convert despite dictating play through the opening segment, Austria took advantage of an in-zone turnover and a funny bounce to open the scoring:

Leon Wallmer was credited with the goal, assisted by David Reinbacher and Oskar Meier -- source confirmed, NOT the hot dog guy.

With a 1-0 lead, Austria continued to lose battles and face sustained defensive zone pressure as the first carried on. Team Switzerland was simply a step ahead, outshooting Austria 13-2 all said and done. On the powerplay, Swiss F Joshua Fahrni of SC Bern sniped one passed Wraneschitz, knotting the match at one a side.

Going into the second period, Swiss head coach Marco Bayer has to like what he sees so far. Heavily out-chancing his opponent, the message has to be consistency.

On the other bench, the Austrians need to turn the tide somehow, but something tells me they will continue to bring the game to their trusted goaltender and do their best to be opportunistic.

Switzerland held an 18-6 shot advantage through the opening nine minutes of the period, so about as expected. Austria's defense turtled up, looking for opportunities where they could counterattack or take advantage of Switzerland's frustration. Austria's 1-for-9 powerplay got a chance halfway through on an interference penalty. Unsuccessful, they generated three shots on goal, and F Senna Peeters rang one off the crossbar before resuming even strength play.

Sebastien Wraneschitz is holding Austria in the game right now, and aside from Peeters, not much offense is getting generated.

Switzerland poured it on as the period drudged forward, eventually breaking through Wraneschitz. Although, it would take multiple opportunities to get another passed him.

Goal scored by Jonas Teibel, assisted by Fabian Ritzmann and Nicolas Baechler.

I'll admit, this Austria team is pesky. They've bent all game long and haven't really broken. Despite being heavily outshot, they continue to bare down and compete. Their resilience was rewarded when they tied the game at two:

Goal scored by Ian Scherzer, assisted by David Reinbacher and Senna Peeters.

Tied 2-2, the game really started to even out in the latter half of the third. Switzerland had the better of the chances, but Austria, for the first time, started to generate some consistent offense. It looked like that second goal gave the big boost. The Austrians had more 5v5 offensive zone time in the third than the other two periods combined. With so much on the line for these two teams, both sides played fiercely, refusing to give the other an inch.

Austria's fate would be sealed when D Lorenz Lindner took a boarding penalty that would result in a five-minute major and a game misconduct with five minutes left in the game:

Switzerland would score the game-winner just seconds into the powerplay:

Goal scored by Attilio Biasca, assisted by Fabian Ritzmann and Dario Allenspach.

Players of the Game:

Switzerland: Jonas Taibel
Austria: Senna Peeters

Sebastien Wraneschitz was deservedly named Austria's player of the tournament, after he was shelled each and every game. Austria will look forward to the 2023 World Junior Championship a few months from now, and hopefully they will have top prospect Marco Kasper back.

Meanwhile, Switzerland advances to the elimination round. Their opponent is to be determined by the result of Canada vs. Finland, but they will face one of those two powerhouse teams.

Canada v. Finland scheduled for today at 6pm eastern.

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