Canada vs. Switzerland results: Canadians win easily, sets up gold-medal showdown with USA at 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship

Jackie Spiegel

•
Canada vs. Switzerland results: Canadians win easily, sets up gold-medal showdown with USA at 2021 IIHF Women's World Championship image

This was a no-doubter.

Canada came out and dominated from wire to wire in a 4-0 win over Switzerland to punch its ticket to the 2021 Women’s World Championship gold-medal game.

"We're excited where we're at as a group," said head coach Troy Ryan. "We're excited for the opportunity that's in front of us."

Two years ago, the Canadians were heavy favorites heading into their 2019 semifinal game against Finland; the group was handed a 4-2 loss and, for the first time in tournament history, Canada did not play for gold. In 2021, a number of players returned from that team and were the driving force on Monday night's decisive victory over the Swiss in Calgary. Mélodie Daoust, Renata Fast and Marie-Philip Poulin each notched two points and Rebecca Johnston added a late power-play goal to ensure history would not repeat itself.

Daoust’s two goals padded her stats as the tournament’s top points-getter with 12. She now has a tournament-best six tallies.

Canada kept its perfect tournament rolling against a Swiss team they defeated 5-0 in the preliminary round. It was part of a pristine 4-0 record — including a commanding 5-1 win over the Americans — before they blew Germany out of WinSport Arena with a 7-0 score (and 52-3 shot advantage) in the quarterfinals. Poulin, who missed the final group game against the United States after taking a shot up high, returned and collected a goal and an assist against the Germans.

The win now sets up the showdown everyone was hoping for and waiting for: Canada vs. the United States for gold. USA Hockey defeated Finland 3-0 in the earlier semifinal; Switzerland will play Finland for bronze.

"I'm so proud of this team and this group and we've worked really hard to get to where we are and we're right where we want to be. But, we're not done yet," said Fast who thinks her squad has another level they can bring to Tuesday's game. "This Canada-USA match-up tomorrow is going to be exciting and I think the team is really prepared. We're ready."

It's been almost a decade since Canada won gold at worlds (2012) as the United States has rattled off five straight titles. (The tournament is normally not held during Olympic years.)

The last time these two teams met for the top prize was the 2018 Winter Olympics, which saw the United States win 3-2 in a dramatic shootout. In that tournament, USA Hockey lost in the preliminary round 2-1 to the Canadians. Translation: Nothing is a given on Tuesday night.

"Every time you play the U.S. you know that it's going to be intense," added Daoust. 

Sporting News had all the action as Canada earned a spot in the gold-medal game with a commanding win against Switzerland (all times Eastern):

Canada vs. Switzerland score, highlights from 2021 Women's World Championship semifinals

Third period: Canada 4, Switzerland 0

9:24 p.m. — Game over.

9:19 p.m. — PP GOAL. Rebecca Johnston skates down and fires the snipe from the left dot. Canada leads 4-0.

9:18 p.m. — Another power play for Canada as Poulin is dumped.

9:11 p.m. — Noemi Ryhner breaks in all alone. Great backcheck by Canada as Ryhner's shot goes off the pipe.

9:11 p.m. — Canada heads to the power play as Sarah Fillier is interfered with.

9:06 p.m. — Ten minutes to go and Canada is outshooting Switzerland 54-8.

9:04 p.m. — Jaime Bourbonnais with a great defensive play to poke check the puck away from a streaking Swiss forward.

8:56 p.m. — Marie-Philip Poulin rings one off the pipe.

8:53 p.m. — Canada kills off the Switzerland power play.

8:51 p.m. — Canada starts on the penalty kill for 1:43.

Second period: Canada 3, Switzerland 0

8:35 p.m. — Period comes to an end.

8:31 p.m. — Two minutes to go in the second and Canada is outshooting Switzerland 40-7.

8:22 p.m. — Canada just playing keep-away at this point.

8:09 p.m. — PP GOAL. Canada gets a power play and just 12 seconds in the shot by Marie-Philip Poulin hits Daoust and bounces up and over the goalie Braendli. It is only Canada's second power-play goal of the tournament. Canada leads 3-0.

8:05 p.m. — Another great chance for Canada's high-octane second line (Spooner/Daoust/Fillier) as Daoust tries the wrap.

8:00 p.m. — Canada with a good chance but the shot is blocked as netminder Andrea Braendli is diving back.

7:59 p.m. — Middle frame is a go.

First period: Canada 2, Switzerland 0

7:42 p.m. — Period comes to an end with Canada leading by a pair.

7:39 p.m. — With two minutes to go in the first, Canada is outshooting Switzerland 20-2.

7:32 p.m. — Swiss captain Lara Stalder with a good shot from the left circle that Desbiens gobbles up. That is Switzerland's second shot of the game.

7:26 p.m. — Switzerland takes a boarding penalty so it'll be 4-on-4 for 1:40 before Canada gets a 20-second power play.

7:24 p.m. — Switzerland heads to the power play as Renata Fast takes a tripping call.

7:22 p.m. — More than eight minutes in and Switzerland gets its first shot on goal.

7:18 p.m. — GOAL. Daoust continues her tear and deflects the Fast shot from the point. She now has points in every game for Canada. Canada leads 2-0.

7:15 p.m. — GOAL. Off the faceoff Renata Fast sneaks down and scores backdoor off the pass from Brianne Jenner. Canada leads 1-0.

7:07 p.m. — Game on.

Pregame

6:14 p.m. — Canadians lineup:

6:10 p.m. — The drip.

6 p.m. — Canada wearing the red.

Jackie Spiegel