Sweden overcomes slow start and five-minute major to defeat Switzerland in their World Junior opener

The opening game of Day 2 at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship saw Simon Edvinsson and Team Sweden battle Simon Knak and Team Switzerland.

Sweden heads into the tournament looking to improve on their quarter-final exit at the 2021 event. Meanwhile, Switzerland looks to make the knockout stage for the first time since 2020, after finishing last in their group at the 2021 tournament.

The first half of the game was very slow, with not a whole lot of action at either end, but both teams came alive about half-way through the second period and into the third.

Sweden got into a bit of penalty trouble in the first period, with the Swiss having three powerplays in the opening frame, but they failed to capitalize on their chances. The teams headed to their dressing rooms deadlocked at 0-0 after 20 minutes.

The game's first goal came with just over three minutes remaining in the middle frame. Simon Edvinsson's shot from the point deflected off of a Swiss player and bounced to Winnipeg Jets prospect Daniel Torgersson, who batted it with his backhand past Noah Patenaude to make it 1-0 Sweden.

Daniel Torgersson opens the scoring for 🇸🇪 Sweden in the 2nd period.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/A8fT1hJj57— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 10, 2022

Less than 30 seconds into the third period, Sweden scored their second of the game. Daniel Torgersson tried to get the puck across to Oskar Olausson, but it was deflected back to him and Torgersson put it past Patenaude for his second of the game, 2-0 Sweden.

🇸🇪 Daniel Torgersson scores his second goal of the game!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/mGgu11bcso— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 10, 2022

Ten seconds later, Sweden got on the board once again. Daniel Ljungman slid the puck to Buffalo Sabres prospect Isak Rosen, who went short side, top corner on Noah Patenaude to extend his team's lead to 3-0.

Isak Rosén scores 10 seconds later and 🇸🇪 Sweden leads 3-0 just like that.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/HITLqy4ehI— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 10, 2022

With nearly eleven minutes left in the third, the Swiss got on the board. Halifax Mooseheads forward Attilio Biasca fired a shot under the blocker of Jesper Wallstedt to cut Sweden's lead to two.

Attilio Biasca puts 🇨🇭 Switzerland on the board halfway through the 3rd period.

🇸🇪 Sweden 3 - 1 🇨🇭 Switzerland#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/u5JHIFvOzg— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 10, 2022

Sweden was caught scrambling in their own zone and one minute later, the Swiss struck again. Dario Allenspach was alone at the top of the circle and beat Wallstedt clean, top corner glove side to make it a one goal game.

🚨 @SwissIceHockey comes back with 🔥🔥🔥

2 goals in 1 minute makes it a 1-goal game half way through the third. #SWESUI #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/OrmUMTHVu3— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) August 10, 2022

Following a video review late in the third period, Swedish forward Theodor Niederbach was assessed a five-minute major and a game misconduct for boarding Swiss forward Dario Allenspach.

🇸🇪 Theodor Niederbach has been assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for boarding for this hit.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/9xJV5vkpYt— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 10, 2022

Sweden would go on to kill off the five-minute major penalty and held on to defeat Switzerland by a score of 3-2. The Swedes will be back in action on Friday against Austria, while Switzerland will face the United States in the late game on Thursday.

Players of the Game

Sweden: Daniel Torgersson
Switzerland: Fabian Ritzmann

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