The United States have solidly defeated France in their first qualifying game at the Ice Hockey World Championship in Switzerland.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Six different players scored for the sixth-ranked US on Friday evening as they cruised past France 6-2. Davis Backes of the St Louis Blues scored a goal and two assists in the effort.
The US have won three of four games so far.
French goalie Fabrice Lhenry stopped over 40 shots through 60 minutes of play.
The Americans admitted afterward that they were already focused on Saturday’s game against Russia that will determine top spot in Group E – and likely a top seeding for the quarterfinal.
“The U.S. gets up for two teams – that’s Canada and Russia,” coach Ron Wilson said. “We’ll be motivated. It’ll be fun.”
The win gives the Americans sole possession of second place in their group, one point back of Russia.
The US will play Russia on Saturday evening in Bern. France play Latvia in the afternoon.
Slovakia come close
In Zurich, third-ranked Finland beat eighth-ranked Slovakia 2-1 in overtime thanks to two goals from captain Sami Kapanen.
Kapanen struck first at 15:05 with a shorthanded goal against Jaroslav Halak of Slovakia.
Early into the second period, Michal Handzus of Slovakia drove into the Finnish zone and took a shot at goalie Pekka Rinne. Rinne stopped the puck but gave up a rebound to Lubos Bartecko, who put it in the net.
Both sides had chances in the third period but 60 minutes would end with Finland and Slovakia tied 1-1. Kapanen struck with 1:21 remaining in overtime to decide the game.
“It is great to get the win,” said Rinne. “We struggled a bit tonight it was not one of our strongest games.”
Both teams play again on Saturday. Slovakia will face the Czech Republic and Finland play Belarus in the evening.
swissinfo with agencies
Popular Stories
More
Banking & Fintech
UBS releases ‘hundreds’ of staff in fresh wave of job cuts
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Latvia break Switzerland in shootout
This content was published on
The Latvian goalie’s dominant play was the deciding factor in his side’s thrilling defeat of Switzerland. It was the host’s second loss in four games at the Ice Hockey World Championship. Masalskis put on a clinic, making 38 saves and holding Latvia’s 1-0 lead for more than two periods. When Switzerland finally got even in…
This content was published on
Perhaps the game’s relatively close 4-2 outcome in favour of Russia at the Ice Hockey World Championship was some consolation for Switzerland’s inability to hold a one-goal first period lead against a more physical Russian opponent. “We saw that we can play with one of the world championship favourites,” said Swiss coach Ralph Krueger. “That’s…
This content was published on
The win, seventh-ranked Switzerland’s second in as many games at the tournament, did not come easy but the result set off a sea of red and white flags in the country’s capital. It also brings Switzerland one step closer to securing a quarterfinal berth. They have already made the qualifying round. “For me, it was…
This content was published on
The northern Swiss city is the number two host of the 2009 World Ice Hockey Championship. But instead of playing at the home arena of the Zurich Lions, teams will square off in the town of Kloten, 12 kilometres away. Heinz Mazenauer, head of communications for the tournament, which begins on Friday afternoon, told swissinfo…
This content was published on
Host captain Mark Streit, the first Swiss non-goalie to play in North America’s National Hockey League (NHL), tells swissinfo about life in the United States, responsibility and targets. It’s one of those success stories that the Americans love so much: the hero who came from virtually nothing to play a central role as a defender…
This content was published on
For several decades in the 1900s the tournament, which now includes 16 teams, was incorporated into the Winter Olympic Games. During Switzerland’s glory years, the country won nine medals but never a gold. It has not finished on the podium since 1953.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.