Florence Schelling stopped 32 of 33 shots including two in the shootout as Switzerland defeated Russia 2-1 in a shootout and claimed 5th place in women’s hockey on Monday at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic games.
Schelling and Russian goalkeeper Irina Gashennikova were both magnificent in net with neither willing to give in to the other.
Stefanie Marty, who tied the game in the second period, put the Swiss up 2-1 in the shootout after beating Gashennikova with a backhand goal, while Schelling stopped Yulia Deulina to give the Swiss the victory.
The first period was highly contested with both teams trading frequent opportunities. Russia’s fore-checking was causing the Swiss problems in their own end and it would pay dividends.
The pressure would cause Sandra Thalmann of Switzerland to take a tripping penalty at the 8:00 mark of the first period and Russia capitalized quickly on the power play. Tatiana Burina beat a screened Schelling with a wrist shot to put Russia ahead 1-0.
Switzerland began to pressure but were beginning to get frustrated due to their inability to score on Gashennikova.
Russia’s Inna Dyubanok’s tripping call at 11:57 of the first put Switzerland on the power play but once again were unable to beat Gashennikova.
Early pressure by the Swiss in the second period caused three Russian penalties in the span of seven minutes. However, The Russian killed off the first two penalties brilliantly.
Gashennikova would finally succumb to the Swiss pressure as Mayer scored off a rebound during the Swiss’ third power play of the period, tying the game 1-1.
Both teams would trade power play opportunities late in the second but neither could take advantage.
With everything to play for in the third period, both teams came out strongly and once again traded power play opportunities.
Neither team was able to break the deadlock in the third period as Gashennikova and Schelling continued their strong play in the game.
Overtime began with the Russians on the power play but they were unable to score with the extra player. The physical play also began to pick up as both a Russian and a Swiss players needed to be helped to the bench after separate collisions in the Swiss zone.
A Marina Sergina elbow would put Switzerland on the power play with 2:41 left in overtime but Gashennikova would once again stand tall. Sergina was able to break in on Schelling after coming out of the penalty box with 12 seconds remaining only to be turned away by Schelling.
The energy in the building increased knowing a shootout was on the horizon.
Kathrin Lehmann of Switzerland began the shootout but was turned away by Gashennikova. Olga Sosina was Russia’s first shooter and was able to beat Schelling to put Russia ahead 1-0.
Nicole Bullo tied the shootout for Switzerland after scoring with a low shot. Schelling turned away Russia’s Iya Gavrilova to keep the shootout score tied at 1-1 allowing Marty to come up with the winner.
There was no shortage of power play opportunities as went Russia is 1-for-5 on the power play and Switzerland went 1-for-10.