HERNING, Denmark – Last year’s runner-up Switzerland defeated the United States with a score of 3-0, handing the Americans their first defeat at the ice hockey world championship on Monday.
Damien Riat, Jonas Siegenthaler and Dean Kukan scored in the Group B encounter in Herning. Goaltender Leonardo Genoni stopped 23 shots to secure the shutout.
You have to give credit to Switzerland. But I know our team has much more in them. We will regroup and prepare to play against Norway.
Ryan Warsofsky, coach of the United States
Riat put Switzerland ahead with 7:14 remaining in the first period, deflecting the puck into the net from the air. This was the first goal the United States had conceded in the tournament.
The second goal came 3:13 later, courtesy of Siegenthaler from the blue line. Kukan scored midway through the final period from the top of the left circle.
After the first goal, we did a better job, we got more and more into the game, and we left them at zero.
Kevin Fiala, Swiss forward
Fiala recorded an assist in his first game at the World Championship. He joined the Swiss late after his Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the NHL playoffs in the first round.
American goaltender Joey Daccord made 24 saves.
The United States had defeated Denmark 5-0 and Hungary 6-0 in their first two matches, and will face Norway on Wednesday.
In Stockholm, Austria defeated Slovakia 3-2 in a penalty shootout.
The current champion, the Czech Republic, plays against Denmark in Herning later on Monday, and Sweden faces its rival Finland in Stockholm.
