Swiss win in OT, stay in Group A

Alina Muller scored at 4:07 of the three-on-three overtime to give Switzerland a 3-2 win over Germany and with it the final spot in Group A for 2025. It was her second goal of the game and first two goals of the tournament, and they couldn’t have come at a better time.

Although both teams lost in the quarter-finals on Thursday, they were on different trajectories. Germany had won all four of its preliminary games while the Swiss didn’t win any. And Germany’s goal differential was 13-3 through five games while the Swiss was a disappointing 4-18.

Muller and linemate Lara Stalder dominated the game for the Swiss, Stalder scoring the other goal and the pair accounting for five of seven goals for the team in the tournament. On the winner, Muller collected the puck isndie her own blue line and flew down the right wing before beating Sanrda Abstreiter with a shot to the far side.

Germany was trying to qualify for the group of five better-ranked nations for the first time since the vertical format was introduced to the Women’s Worlds in 2012, but they nonetheless leave Utica feeling good about their tournament.

The game got off to a slow, if not cautious, start, the only goal of the opening period coming late after some nice Swiss pressure in the German end. Lara Christen’s floating shot from the point was tipped down by Alina Muller at 17:58, the puck dipping under the expecting glove of Sandra Abstreiter. It was Muller’s first goal of the tournament.

The first big momentum change occurred midway through the second. Lara Stalder set up Muller to the back side for what looked like a sure goal, but Abstreiter extended her right pad at the last second to make a huge save. Germany then went to the power play and capitalized.

Lilli Welcke spotted sister Luisa Welcke to the back side, and she didn’t miss with her one-timer at 10:20 to make it a 1-1 game. The Swiss re-took the lead just two minutes later, though. This time Stalder was the recipient of a nice pass from Ivana Wey in the slot, and Stalder’s quick shot slid through the pads of Abstreiter at 12:27.

But Germany wasn’t out of the picture by any means. They tied the game late thanks to a terrific individual effort by Emily Nix. She built some speed through centre ice and barged her way around defender Sinja Leemann, and as she fell to the ice she slide the puck between Brandli’s pads at 18:18 for one of the prettier goals of the tournament.

Brandli was injured at the 4:31 mark of the third…