Ice Hockey World Championship

Semi-final Canada – Switzerland from 18:20 LIVE

A tough battle by hook or by crook - and in the end the Swiss beat the Canadians ...(Bild: AP/Associated Press)

What a thriller, what an epic battle on the ice: Switzerland advanced in the second semi-final of the 2024 Ice Hockey World Championship against defending champions Canada with a 3-2 win on penalties! The Czech Republic, who had beaten Sweden 7:3 earlier in the day, awaits in the final on Sunday in Prague ... 

The Canadians, for their part, failed to successfully defend the title for the first time in eight years - the Swiss, on the other hand, are in the final for the third time after 2013 and 2018 and now want to win gold for the first time.

The team of long-term coach Patrick Fischer, who lost 3:2 to the Canadians in the group stage, dominated the first period, not least thanks to three two-minute penalties by the North Americans, and made the most of their superior numbers. The two NHL forwards Kevin Fiala (16th) and Nino Niederreiter, who deflected a Josi shot (18th), scored on the power play.

The Canadiens were unable to capitalize on two great chances by Brandon Tanev and Dawson Mercer while shorthanded, but got back into the game with a lucky Tanev goal (35). Andrea Glauser used his own boot to push the puck over his own goal line. It was the first goal Switzerland had conceded in 5-on-5 play since the Austria match (6:5) or six games.

The Canadians put on a lot of pressure in the final third, but were unable to overcome the outstanding goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni for a long time. Captain John Tavares scored the equalizer in the power play (58').

Fiala and Andrighetto score in the penalty shoot-out
In overtime, both teams survived a short-handed game, and in the penalty shootout Kevin Fiala and Sven Andrighetto scored and Genoni made three saves to secure the Swiss' progress. Only young star Connor Bedard scored for the Canadians.

Switzerland now hopes to defeat the Czech Republic for the second time in this tournament. In the group phase, the Swiss won 2:1 after a penalty shoot-out, but since then the host team has received top-class reinforcements in attack in the form of the two forwards David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha from the Boston Bruins.