Switzerland Blanks Norway 6-0 to Reach World Hockey Championship Final

Switzerland blanked Norway 6-0 on Saturday at the world hockey championship to reach the final for the third straight year. Leonardo Genoni stopped all 20 shots he faced, and Switzerland stayed one win from its first title after finishing second in the previous two championships.

Genoni Holds Norway

Genoni set the tone early and never let Norway get back into the game. Christoph Bertschy opened the scoring with 2:24 left in the first period, and Switzerland had the lead it needed before the first intermission.

Denis Malgin made it 2-0 early in the second period on an odd-man rush. Ken Jager followed to push the margin to 3-0, then Damien Riat converted on the power play in the middle period to make it 4-0.

Swiss Scoring Rolls On

The third period brought no relief for Norway. Nico Hischier added another goal, and Theo Rochette finished the rout as Switzerland kept the pressure on through the final horn.

Sven Andrighetto added two assists and moved to the top of the scoring table with 15 points from nine games. Switzerland got that production without Timo Meier, who was suspended for one game by the world championship disciplinary panel after kneeing Oskar Sundqvist in the semifinal against Sweden.

Final Waiting In Switzerland

Switzerland will meet the winner of Canada and Finland, who were scheduled to play the other semifinal later Saturday. Norway moves on to the bronze medal game, while Switzerland returns to a stage it has reached for three straight years without yet finishing the job.

Swiss fans have repeatedly sold out Swiss Life Arena, and this run has given them another home final to follow. The next result will decide whether Switzerland finally turns three straight final trips into a title.