The Swiss national ice hockey team wins its playoff game against Italy 3-0. After this must-win, the Swiss will face Finland, the 2022 Olympic champions, in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
17.02.2026, 14:41
17.02.2026, 14:46
SDA
Lightning start...
The match against the Olympic hosts was reminiscent of Switzerland's opening game six days ago against France (4:0). Philip Kurashev scored after 79 seconds and Roman Josi (on the powerplay) after ten minutes to give the Swiss an early 2-0 lead against Italy.
... then sloppiness
But then, as against France, sloppiness crept into the Swiss game. For almost 300 years, ever since Johann Sebastian Bach set the story of Mr. Schlendrian to music in 1734, Schlendrian has been regarded as a slow, sluggish, careless and therefore ineffective and error-prone way of working.
Certainly, the Swiss kept the Italians under control better than Sweden (5:2 win, but only 3:2 until the 56th minute) and Slovakia (3:2 win) in the preliminary round. But anyone expecting the Swiss to "fill up on confidence en masse" like the Finns, who demolished Italy 11-0, was disappointed.
The positives
Nevertheless, there were of course some positives: Nico Hischier scored in the 46th minute to make it 3-0 and his first goal of these Olympic Games. Hischier had already set up the first two Swiss goals. Goalie Leonardo Genoni had to save 20 shots, but already had his second shutout of the tournament after the 4-0 win against France. It's possible that the Swiss only let up from the second period onwards because they were saving their strength for the quarter-finals. And Patrick Fischer showed that he has not yet lost his magic in the last four months of his national team coaching career: He took a timeout out of the blue in the 46th minute - five seconds later Hischier made it 3-0.
Against Italy, Switzerland played for the first time in the smaller hall in the exhibition center near Rho in the Milan agglomeration. The quarter-final against the Finns also took place in this adjoining hall. The Swiss were eliminated in the quarter-finals against Finland, the 2022 Olympic champions, in Beijing.
Switzerland - Italy 3:0 (2:0, 0:0, 1:0)
Milan, Rho Ice Hockey Arena. - 5700 spectators. - SR Hribik/Schrader (CZE/GER), Suchanek/Wyonzek (CZE/CAN). - Goals: 2. Kurashev (Hischier, Meier) 1:0. 11. Josi (Andrighetto, Hischier/exclusion of Larkin) 2:0. 46. Hischier (Riat, Meier/exclusion of Frycklund) 3:0. - Penalties: 3 times 2 minutes against Switzerland, 6 times 2 minutes against Italy.
Switzerland: Genoni; Moser, Josi; Kukan, Siegenthaler; Fora, Marti; Glauser, Berni; Meier, Hischier, Kurashev; Niederreiter, Suter, Andrighetto; Bertschy, Thürkauf, Schmid; Riat, Jäger, Knak.
Italy: Clara; Pietroniro, Zanatta; Larkin, Trivellato; Di Tomaso, Glira; Seed, Di Perna; Gazley, Bradley, Digiacinto; De Luca, Frycklund, Saracino; Petan, Mantenuto, Frigo; Zanetti, Morini, Segafredo.
Remarks: Switzerland without Fiala and Malgin (both injured), Berra (substitute goalie) and Schmid (extra goalie). - 46th timeout Switzerland. - Shots: Switzerland 51 (18-14-19); Italy 20 (2-10-8). - Powerplay yield: Switzerland 2/5; Italy 0/2.
