Swiss coach was right — it was no contest

CANADIANS LEAVE NO DOUBT IN 8-2 ROMP

What was that about Switzerland having no chance against Canada? Two days after head coach Christian Wohlwend laughed off any possibility that Switzerland might manage an upset win in the quarter-final, because their opponent “can shoot better, they can pass better — they can do everything better,” Canada certainly proved him right in an 8-2 win.

Canada will next play the Czech Republic in the semifinal on Thursday, where another blowout is expected as the team makes what should be an easy march back to the championship final.

This time, it’s not a mind game. It’s the reality.

Though Canada did not play the Czech Republic in the preliminary round, the teams met in a pre-tournament exhibition, with Canada winning 9-0. The Czechs did not have their entire roster for that game and had just landed in Canada, but it’s still not an overstatement to suggest Canada is once again the overwhelming favourite.

Based on Canada’s play at this year’s tournament, you could say that about just about any of the teams Canada might face, except of course, the U.S., who beat Canada 4-3 in a shootout on Dec. 29 in a blizzard. It’s Canada’s lone loss.

This might be have started out as a no-name team devoid of topend superstars. But it’s been a dominant no-name team. There haven’t been any glaring weak spots in Canada’s game.

Drake Batherson scored twice against Switzerland, while Canada also received goals from Cale Makar, Brett Howden, Jordan Kyrou, Conor Timmins, Dillon Dube and Maxime Comtois.

After five games, Canada is outscoring its opponent 28-7. Even the defence, which looked like it might be a concern after Montreal Canadiens player Victor Mete missed the quarter-final with an undisclosed injury, has got better with each game.

Perhaps it’s why the Swiss coach said what he said the other day. Some thought maybe it was a tactic and Wohlwend was trying to get the Canadians to underestimate its much-weaker opponent.

But it turns out he was begging for mercy.

Canada outshot Switzerland 6015. That margin tells the story.

This might not have been as big a blowout as their 8-1 pretournament win against Switzerland. But it was still a vicious beat-down. The ice was still wet when Howden scored 48 seconds after the opening puck drop. By the end of the first period, Canada was leading 3-0 and outshooting Switzerland 19-5. After two periods, the Canadians had chased Switzerland’s starting goalie Philip Wuthrich from the net, leading 6-1.

You half expected the IIHF to step in and stop the game. That’s how one-sided the game was. Fortunately for Switzerland, Canada stepped off the gas in the second half of the game.

Down 5-0 in the second period, Switzerland changed goalies. It provided a minor spark, with Dario Rohrbach redirecting a point shot from Simon le Coultre to make it 5-1.

Switzerland added another while short-handed in the third period. But by then the game was done. Even with their fourth liners on the ice, Canada couldn’t help but find the back of the net.

As the Swiss coach had predicted, Canada dominated again.

Expect more of the same in the semis.

NICHOLAS T. LOVERDE / GETTY IMAGES Brett Howden scores for Canada on Philip Wüthrich during first period world juniors action against Switzerland on Tuesday in Buffalo.

NATHAN DENETTE / THE CANADIAN PRESS Dillon Dube, left, celebrates a goal against Switzerland with Taylor Raddysh. Canada is outscoring its opponents 28-7.