Austrian Ice Hockey Team’s Impressive Performance Against Switzerland: A Thrilling Defeat

As expected, the Austrian ice hockey team suffered their second defeat against Switzerland on Sunday night in Prague in front of 13,512 spectators. But what happened in the unfortunate 5:6 (2:1, 2:3, 1:2) was unexpected. Like night and day compared to the rejection from Denmark, more aggressive, faster, more complex. This was the best and most impressive performance in recent years, which team boss Roger Bader compared to the victory against the Czech Republic in Tampere two years ago. Austria would surely have won a point or two, and there was even a chance for three when Marco Rossi appeared alone in front of Swiss goalkeeper Akira Schmid with the score at 5:5 four minutes from the end, but shot it in his grasping hand. . In the end, the individual class of two NHL stars, Roman Josi and Nico Hischier, decided the Swiss. The captains of the Nashville Predators and New Jersey Devils together scored five of the six goals from Switzerland. Hischier three, Josi two.

The 02 Arena was a great movie theater. Austria led 2-0 and 3-1, overcoming deficits of 3-4 and 4-5. That speaks for the spirit and confidence of the team. The cinema also included the involvement of Arno del Curto, the Swiss supporter of team boss Roger Bader, on the bench. Like a volcano. He looked unusually calm against the Danes, but things were completely different against his compatriots. He encouraged or calmed down the players, he was always between them, not behind the bench. Knowledge. As it was for defender Clemens Unterweger his first World Cup goal after beating Rossi to make it 1-0. That his fan club, who had traveled from Huben in Ottirol, were celebrating in the stands, as were his parents. The disaster started with the first penalties of the Austrians, in which there were only two changes: David Kickert instead of David Madlener, who was just sitting in the stands, in the goal, Benjamin Baumgartner instead of Lucas Thaler in the attack, there the line with Manuel Ganahl and the Lukas Haudum was later chosen as the best Austrian. Just 24 seconds after the fourth line made it 2-0 (Paul Huber after an assist from Vinzenz Rohrer), Dominic Zwerger had to go to the penalty box for a trip, and 47 seconds later Haudum had to go to the penalty box because of one Austria was on the ice too much. With two extra men, Switzerland only needed four seconds to score through captain Josi.

After 43 seconds of the second period, Austria’s first power play goal came from Haudum. Hischier responded 38 seconds later with Switzerland’s second goal. When two Austrians (Benjamin Baumgartner, David Maier) had to sit in the penalty box again, Josi needed only 36 seconds to equalize, 13 seconds later Switzerland took the lead with five face four 5.3. Austria hit back: With Haudum’s second power play goal. When Ali Wukowits was out for tripping, the Swiss took advantage to retake the lead after 43 seconds of the final third. Published by Hischier. Austria conceded and equalized twice. Because Swiss goalkeeper Schmid missed a shot from Baumgartner. When everything looked like a draw and extra time, American referee Sean MacFarlane sent Wolf to the bench to hold him. A debatable decision. Definitely difficult. Hischier used it with 51 seconds left to seal the decision. The strong Kickert did not look happy with the fifth goal of the Swiss power play and should have taken the goalkeeper’s corner. Hischier, who came from behind the goal, hit it. The first duel of the World Cup between father and son did not happen: Thierry Bader saw the thriller from the stands. He has not registered for the World Cup yet.

For the unfortunate losers, Monday will be off without training before the duel against the world champions on Tuesday night. Denmark lost 1:5 (0:2, 1:0, 0:3) against Canada the day after they easily won against Austria, but they won the third against the world champions, with the d ‘young star Connor Bedard scored the first and third goals. It was 1:3 until the 58th minute before the Danes took their goalkeeper off the ice. Then came the fourth goal. Christian Wejse, the striker with the tip of his nose sewn on, scored for the Danes. Two of their team will play in Klagenfurt at KAC next season: just like their captain, defender Jesper Jensen Aabo, who “exchanged” fights with Bedard at the end, and both had to go to the penalty box, the new striker Mathias From. . The 26-year-old didn’t score or assist in the first two World Cup games, but was the league’s top scorer with 86 points in Denmark for Herning. Norway, Austria’s opponents on Easter Sunday in the final match, caused problems for the Czech Republic on Saturday night, aided by excellent Düsseldorf goalkeeper Hendrik Haukeland, and led 3-2 after the first third. After the second it was 3:3, and finally the Czechs won 6:3 with eight NHL professionals. The shot ratio was 49:11 for the winners. England’s performance against Finland, who finished 0-8, “matched their standard”. These Englishmen are the key for Austria to stay in the league. With a performance like that against Switzerland, Austria cannot afford to lose this game. And that was the most positive aspect of the second loss

Photo: IIHF.