Canada began it's 2011 Worlds much like it's previous quests for gold, by easily downing a lesser foe. Today's blowout victim was host Switzerland who was dispatched 12-0 in front of 2,900 fans at Eishalle Deutweg in Winterthur. In a game where Canada led from Start to finish the outcome signifying that perhaps the lower six teams at this event are still much further from closing the gap on the leading two.
The first period started with optimism for Switzerland as Florence Schelling was able to hold off the Canadian charge for the first ten and a half minutes of the contest. During that span it was apparent that both teams needed some time to get loose. Canada even showed some signs of distraction being called for a Too Many Players on the Ice penalty. However the even scoreboard wouldn't last much longer as Cherie Piper put the maple leaf up 1-0 at the 10:42 mark of the first. The Goal assisted by Meghan Agosta and Bobbi Jo Slusar was the first of three for Piper in the contest. Canada would wait just over five minutes to put the game out of reach as Haley Irwin took advantage of a player mismatch during a Sarah Vaillancourt Interference penalty giving Canada their first shorthanded goal of the event and first of two in the period. It took Canada just 17 seconds of their third penalty kill of the period to go up 3-0 in the game as veteran Haley Wickenheiser scored during a Jocelyne Larocque holding call. Canada ended the frame with a 3-0 lead and a 19-6 shot advantage. The amount of pressure that Canada applied in the frame was nothing compared to the offensive they put up in the second period.
With a Swiss penalty still freshly expired on the clock Meaghan Mikkelson took advantage of an already weakened Switzerland attack to give Canada a 4-0 lead their first of five goals in the period. Just three and a half minutes later Gillian Apps gave Canada a 5-0 lead with the first Power Play Goal of the event for Canada. Rebecca Johnston, Marie-Philip Poulin, and Jen Wakefield also scored in the frame while Tessa Bonhomme picked up her first two assists in the game. During the second period Switzerland visited the penalty box four times while putting up just five shots compared to Canada's 31. 14:02 into the stanza, Switzerland swapped out Florence Schelling for Sophie Anthamatten. While the Northeastern Huskie may be impressive with some defensive aid, her numbers today show a 36 saves on 42 shots during the 34:02 of the game she played.
Canada would increase their growing advantage four more times during the final period. With Sophie Anthamatten in net for the Swiss the Canadians could virtually pick and choose their chances in finishing off this clinic of a contest. Cherie Piper and Tessa Bonhomme book-ended the frame with Power Play goals while Jayna Hefford and Piper also added even strength goals. Canada took their foot of the gas for much of the period still out shooting the Swiss 17-8 in the final frame and 67-19 for the game. Little good comes from a game with this wide of a scoring margin. For Canada this contest showed once again the separation amongst the worlds top eight teams. For Switzerland, the only good is the experience that comes with being totally over matched and outplayed at both ends of the ice.
Box Score (IIHF)
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