WC Group D: Apr 27 GDT - Switzerland vs. Austria (4-4)

Official Tournament website: http://www.iihf.com
Follow the games on-line: http://www.iihf.com/hydra/tournaments/output/WS/
--------------------------------
Switzerland vs. Austria
--------------------------------

My prediction: 4-2 Switzerland

Very interesting game. The Austrians have played very well so far, but IMO Switzerland is the superior team and should win this one.

this will be a very close matchup and I would place Switzerland slightly above Austria in ranking.

But Austria played well so far, above expectations.

Moreover being a patriot and all I will say 3-2 Austria. :)

LET THE "BATTLE" OF THE ALPS BEGIN!!!

:handclap:

very importand game for both teams!
hopefully the austrians aren`t to tired because of the challenging canada-game and can again surprise with a great performance!

watch out for number 15 ... :yo: :bow: :bow:

i`ll predict a tie:

2:2

I agree, a very close game.

I'd predict a 4:2 for Switzerland (last goal an emtpy-netter). :yo:

I'm not going to predict a score, but anything but a close game would surprise me..

Go Welser

Divis is hot, but Gerber will be even hotter :) (crossing fingers)

Switzerland wins 3-2

Austria will put on another great effort and Vanek gets 2.

3-2 Austria.

Switzerland:
Cereda
Bezina
While he might not score them himself, I predict that Rüthemann will be involved in at lest half of the Swiss goals. This guy has been on fire for almost the whole season, and especially in the playoffs.

Austria has been hot in the tournament, but Swiss team has better quality on the roster.. it could be a tie, but im with Austria on this one. Switzerland vs. Austria 1-3

I might actually watch this game with more interest than in previous years, unless I'm going to play soccer. I'm betting (literally) on a tie, maybe 3-3.

If somebody can watch, please keep me updated. I can't watch it...

6 minutes into the game and I think Austria has started best, granted they have had time on the powerplay. Nothing spectacular to report yet,

That ice looks really bad, players just keep falling into it.

First period over. Not very entertaining IMO.
Austria started best, but Switzerland came back pretty strong.
Very few quality scoring chances, hoping for a better second period.

Nice save from Divis on a breakaway by Wichser!

1st period is over, kinda boring game. :(

Nice save from Divis on a breakaway by Wichser!

1st period is over, kinda boring game. :(

Big save in the final minute by Divis.

The game is very hard, especially the swiss players have layed down some hard checks. The referees let it run mostly though so Im not sure much will change over the course of the game. An early goal would have helped...

Few chances, both know this game is important.

Big save in the final minute by Divis.

The game is very hard, especially the swiss players have layed down some hard checks. The referees let it run mostly though so Im not sure much will change over the course of the game. An early goal would have helped...

Few chances, both know this game is important.

1-0 Mark Streit

Streit scores! 1:0 Switzerland

1-1 Daniel Welser

Welser ties it quickly!

1:1

Damn Mikkoz, you're too fast for me... :)

BIG chance for Switzerland!

Now a five on three for Switzerland

BIG chance for Switzerland!

.. and they missed that, well another big chance 5:3 PP for Switzerland.

Divis has been solid.

Edit. another Austrian to the box 5:4 PP for Switzerland.

Now a five on three for Switzerland

Divis killed it. Nice work.

Another PP for Switzerland comes up.

Divis killed it. Nice work.

Another PP for Switzerland comes up.
Damn. Is divis that good or does or PP suck? A 2min 5 on 3 should result in a goal... :madfire:

1-2 Vanek

Damn. Is divis that good or does or PP suck? A 2min 5 on 3 should result in a goal... :madfire:

They passed a lot and got some shots. But I've seen more dangerous 5 on 3's. ;)

1-3 P Lukas PP goal


Austria is all over!

Austria is all over!

The Vanek goal directly after these two pk's seems to be a very important one.

VERY nice play! Unterluggauer makes it 4:1 with just seconds left in the 2nd!

1-4 Gerhard Unterluggauer

Edit. well cant win them all ;)

Big period by the Austrians. Gerber hasn't been very good in net though.
This Austrian team could be really good next season, when they are hosting this tournament. Plenty of young and talented players.

my god what a period...Vanek again with two clutch plays, first the go ahead goal and then the perfect pass for Lukas.

Divis is outstanding again my oh my who would have thought this austrian team can play like this?

If nothing major happens in the third Austria will have WON the division :)

Go boys! :handclap: :handclap:

my god what a period...Vanek again with two clutch plays, first the go ahead goal and then the perfect pass for Lukas.

Divis is outstanding again my oh my who would have thought this austrian team can play like this?

If nothing major happens in the third Austria will have WON the division :)

Go boys! :handclap: :handclap:

What is the story on Divis, how old, is he a prospect of any NHL team?

What is the story on Divis, how old, is he a prospect of any NHL team?
He is backup in st. louis!?!?!?!

Could Vanek challenge for the scoring title at the WC? 2 Points again! GO! GO! GO!

Could Vanek challenge for the scoring title at the WC? 2 Points again! GO! GO! GO!

That will depend on how long Austria will stay in the tournament.

Yes Divis is 28 and backup in St. Louis.

You are correct, he is the backup for the Blues.

I know that for a fact, he earned a victory against my Sabres this season. :shakehead

Could Vanek challenge for the scoring title at the WC? 2 Points again! GO! GO! GO!


Man I can't wait to see this kid wearing a Sabres sweater.

2-4 Martin Plüss

Nice slapshot by Plüss - 4:2.

Switzerland scores.

Plüss

EDIT: Three posts in a row stating the goal. :)

He is backup in st. louis!?!?!?!

He looks very funny with his blue St. Louis mask and his red and white shirt. :)

EDIT: Three posts in a row stating the goal. :)

Does that make three goals? :D


Gerber still looks a bit shaky.

Switzerland was dominating couple minutes there, but no good shots.

Austria PP 5:4

Switzerland was dominating couple minutes there, but no good shots.

Austria PP 5:4
Very good forechecking by the swiss forwards now...

Weak refs. Vanek is unstoppable, so the swiss defenseman keep holding him. No call :(

Is the score still 4-2? If it ends that way I put my hands on €600 :D Only game today I have put some money on...

Yes, it is.

But Austria had some dangerous breakaways the last couple of minutes.

Questionable goal by Switzerland makes it 3:4.


This should get us some nice last 5 minutes. :D

Weak refs.

proofed. interference of the goaltender. 3:4 :mad:

Damn :P I was so close

Sorry for that.

Maybe you should bet some money on team germany tomorrow. ;)

I'm not sure I would have allowed the goal. But there were no real protests by the Austrians from what I could see.

I'm not sure I would have allowed the goal. But there were no real protests by the Austrians from what I could see.

For me it looked like goalie interference. But maybe the Swiss player was pushed into Divis? Didn't see that, though. :dunno:

Switzerland pulling their goalie.

Mistake by Divis and Switzerland scores. We'll find out if it was high sticking

Divis didn't want to crease the puck and failed to play it along the boards. So Rüthemann makes it 4:4!


EDIT: Goal is good! It's a TIE!

man I feel sorry for the Austrians now. Not the best game in the world but very exciting/interesting :)

well this is the second time we blow a lead in the last period :(

Still, an awesome second period and an overall solid effort. In the end it was the close game we thought it would be. I think the tie is ok and puts austria in the top spot in the division before the final matchup between Canada and Switzerland.

If someone told me Austria will be unbeaten after the first round before the tournament Id have taken it in a heartbeat :)

Can anyone tell me why Vanek has chosen to play for Austria instead of the Czech Republik?

Can anyone tell me why Vanek has chosen to play for Austria instead of the Czech Republik?

Could be because the family decided to stay in Austria and take up Austrian citizenship.

He was born in austria and also lived his first 14 years in Austria before moving to North America. His father is born in the czech rep and his mother in slovakia.

In summer he comes to train in Austria and he has his friends here so thats prolly the reason along with citizenship of course.

It was overall a fair tie. The Swiss missed a few good oportunities in the first 10 minutes of the second period, the austrias (or how do you call people from austria on english ? ;)) in the third period.

Not a good game by the both goalies. Divis made two mistakes (2:4 by Plüss and the 4:4), Gerber also one big mistake (1:2) and the 1:4 would also have been possible to save.

I hope that tomorrow Bührer gets his chance and guides the Swiss to a victory over Canada. :D

It was overall a fair tie. The Swiss missed a few good oportunities in the first 10 minutes of the second period, the austrias (or how do you call people from austria on english ? ;)) in the third period.

Not a good game by the both goalies. Divis made two mistakes (2:4 by Plüss and the 4:4), Gerber also one big mistake (1:2) and the 1:4 would also have been possible to save.

I hope that tomorrow Bührer gets his chance and guides the Swiss to a victory over Canada. :D

that would be austrians :teach: :p:

that would be austrians :teach: :p:

ah, that's right. :banghead: ;)

The reasons for the tie from an austrian point of view:

- Switzerland put a lot of pressure on the austrian defense in the third period.
- The refs were bad. There should have been at least two calls on Vanek... And the third goal was not ok - Jenni clearly interfered Divis. Is this because Austria is not a "big" hockey nation?
- Gerber robbed Szucs and Setzinger on breakaways
- Divis should have kept the puck. Man, 20 seconds before the final whistle and he goes for the empty netter.

Before the game I would have been satisfied with a tie, but blowing a 4-1 lead is bad, especially after doing it twice in a row (2-0 lead vs Canada).

However, this team is young (the youngest at the WC) and has a bright future. The quarter final is still possible, Germany or Latvia are tough opponents, but everything is possible here...

Not a good game by the both goalies. Divis made two mistakes (2:4 by Plüss and the 4:4), Gerber also one big mistake (1:2) and the 1:4 would also have been possible to save.

I hope that tomorrow Bührer gets his chance and guides the Swiss to a victory over Canada. :D
I actually don't think Gerber played that bad, from what I saw in the replays. At the 1:4, he did not see the shot because a fellow Swiss player screened him accidentially. And he made a couple of nice saves on breakaways in the third.

- The refs were bad. There should have been at least two calls on Vanek... And the third goal was not ok - Jenni clearly interfered Divis. Is this because Austria is not a "big" hockey nation?
From what I saw in the replays, Jenni was pushed into Divis by an austrian defender. Of course our glasses have different colors, so we might just disagree, but to me it really looked that way.

From what I saw in the replays, Jenni was pushed into Divis by an austrian defender. Of course our glasses have different colors, so we might just disagree, but to me it really looked that way.
You may be right. The austrians had it in their own hands and failed, but some of the refs decisions in that game are beyond me.