The Russians will stay among the elite teams, Switzerland will descend
P r e r o v – There was a final battle of the relegation round planned on Saturday in Prerov. The Russians took the lead early, but the Swiss managed to equalize in the second period. It was a though battle, which decided the late goal in the overtime from the stick of Pavlova, who sent the Swiss into the first division.
Referees: Allen – Connolly, Gagnon. Attendance: 360.
Photogallery
Game report
One would say that it will be a careful start into this decider, but there were plenty of shots on both sides. The Swiss had maybe more chances, but it was Russia, who opened the scoreline. Valeria Pavlova intercepted one of the Swiss passes, didn’t hesitate and sent it precisly above Alder’s shoulder.
The Swiss didn’t take advantage even from a four minutes lasting powerplay, so the Russians stroke again. This time, it was Renata Isanbayeva who scored with an accurate shot from a breakaway. However, the Swiss had more of the game and one chance followed another. The Monakhova finally let the puck behind her when Isabel Waidacher managed to chip it over her.
Switzerland began to take over the inicative and released plenty of shots on Monakhova. The Russians had their chances too, from the breakaways, but didn’t score in any of them. The Swiss managed to equalize with Lara Stalder’s move around the goal, which Monakhova couldn’t stop.
The match offered an interesting hockey in the third period, but none of the teams scored the third one. The closest effort was from Belyakova’s stick, who hit the post just three seconds before the end.
The final word was on the Russian side. "We were nervous in the overtime. It wasn´t a match, in which if we would lose, nothing happens. It was a lot at stake and the luckiest team won," said Waidacher. Valeria Pavlova showed her individual skills in the overtime, as she got past the defenders and decided with a low shot, which Alder probably didn’t see. "My teammates helped me a lot, I gained the puck in a challenge behind the goal and tried to shoot. Fortunately, it went in," described Pavlova
Reactions
The head coach of Switzerland refused to offer his reaction to the match.
Alexander Ulyankin (head coach of Russia): „It was a though game, we all knew, that we play for everything. We had problems with finishing. I´m really happy, that we saved ourselves, but it wasn´t easy. The girls are celebrating in the changing room, but our goals for this championship were different. We didn´t manage our games in Zlin, so we had a lot of other work.“
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Best defenseman of the tournament: Erin Ambrose (Canada)
Best ofenseman of the tournament: Alex Carpenter (USA)