First Swiss win

31 Dec 2011 | Henrik Lundqvist

Christoph Bertschy and Gaetan Haas scores two goals each when Switzerland beats Latvia 5-3 in the World Juniors in Calgary

Switzerland, without injured star Sven Bärtschi, beat Latvia 5-3 and sent them to the relegation games.

The Swiss team had a 3-1 lead after two periods but allowed Latvia to score twice and tie the game. The Swiss 2-goal lead was immediately restored when Gaetan Haas and Christian Marti scored within a minute.

Christoph Bertschy scored the only goal of the first period. Haas made it 2-0 Switzerland at 22:18. Toms Andersons got the first Latvian goal 9 minutes into the middle act. At 38:28 Bertschy scored his second goal, just like the first time on the power play.

"The Latvians played hard, but over the whole game we were better, and it's a big win for us," said Bertschy to IIHF.com.

Nikita Jevpalovs and Vitalijs Hvorostinins scored for Latvia in the third period, but Haas replied quickly and made it 4-3.

"We knew we needed a big shift after they tied it, and we scored right away, which was really important for our team," said Haas to IIHF.com.

59 seconds later Christian Marti scored his first goal of the championship to make it 5-3 and secure the Swiss win.

After four losses Latvia is sent to the relegation round where games against USA and Denmark awaits. Switzerland will have to beat Slovakia in the next game to make it to the quarter finals.