Switzerland edges Finland in Overtime 2-1

Three periods weren't enough as Finland and Switzerland needed overtime to settle this Preliminary Round match up. In front of a home nation crowd the Swiss National Team rebounded from their 12-0 loss to Canada dispatching 2010 Olympic bronze medalist Finland in Overtime. Despite being out shot after the first period, and trailing after two periods, Switzerland never wavered and battled back for the hard fought 2-1 win.

After a pair of first period penalties Finland got on the board with a goal at the 5:51 mark. The Only goal of the frame came just as the Fins were regrouping from the second penalty kill. Tanja Niskanen took a Tiina Saarimaki feed and put the puck past Florence Schelling to give Finland a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the period was a physical battle including matching calls at the 17:10 mark where Phoebe Stanz went to the box for Checking and was joined by Rosa Lindstedt who was called for Roughing. The first period was controlled in large part by the Swiss who used their home ice and power play edge to work on wearing down Finlands assault. Shots in the period were 14-8 in favor of the Swiss.

In the second period the marble theory began to take effect as Finland was able to gain a bit of an edge with back to back power plays of their own. At the 16:04 mark the Anne Helin was whistled for hooking Darcia Leimgruber who imbelished the hook enough to receive a diving call of her own. Swiss teammate Kathrin Lehmann took offense to these proceedings and picked up a roughing call to round out the play. Just before the 4 on 3 power play for Finland wound down Minnamari Tuominen was called for a hooking penalty of her own. Switzerland took advantage as 54 seconds later Nicole Bullo knotted the game at 1-1 with a goal assisted by Christine Meier and Sara Benz. With the goal the momentum shifted swiftly in favor of the home nation despite being out shot 18-4 in the frame.

In the third period each team struggled to gain an edge. Michelle Karvinen and Sandra Thalmann were matched up after tussling at the 8:33 mark of the period. With the period just over half gone the Fins were awarded a power play as Phoebe Stanz got a bit too physical and was whistled for Checking. The Call wouldn't come back to haunt the Swiss however as they managed to kill off the Penalty and just over two minutes after the penalty expired the Swiss gained a power play of their own when Minnamari Tuominen picked up a checking call of her own. The Fins killed the penalty with ease however setting the stage for Overtime. In the extra session Stefaine Marty found the back of the net at the 1:50 mark ending the game and giving the Swiss a 2-1 victory.

Both teams take tomorrow off to regroup and return to action Tuesday as Finland faces Canada and Switzerland looks for two in a row and a place in the Play-off round against Kazakhstan.

Box Score (IIHF)