Big loss for Kazakhstan, shock win for Hungary

Kazakhstan suffered a heavy loss to Switzerland in its third game at the 2023 World Championship. The Swiss posted a third straight shut-out to secure a 5-0 verdict and move to the top of the Group B standings.

On a difficult evening for Kazakhstan, starting goalie Andrei Shutov was chased from the game with 10 minutes to play. Nikita Boyarkin took over, and kept the final score down to five.

Kazakhstan’s head coach Galym Membetaliyev tried to find positives from the performance. “We played in flashes,” he said. “At times there were good moments but we lacked movement, accuracy and we weren’t clinical with our chances. We gave up the puck too easily. Our guys tried, but they couldn’t live with it. We don’t have the experience at international level.”

”But it’s a good learning experience for the guys, especially the World Championship rookies. Everyone is eager to play, everybody is in a combative mode ahead of the next games. We’ll get better from game to game.”

Switzerland has now gone 180 minutes from the start of the tournament without allowing a goal. The country’s longest shut-out streak — 201 minutes — dates back to 1939.

Kazakhstan remains on two points from its opening three games, thanks to a shoot-out win over Norway. The Norwegians, meanwhile, moved up the table today thanks to a 1-0 verdict against Slovenia. Thomas Berg-Paulsen got the only goal and goalie Henrik Haukeland stopped 18 shots. Slovenia is still waiting for its first points while Kazakhstan is now seventh on two points. Norway moves up to four.

Bertrand, Jensen on target in Tampere

In Tampere, former Sibir man Charles Bertrand had two points for France in its game with Hungary. However, that was not enough for Les Bleus. The Magyars twice tied the game in regulation and won it on an overtime goal from Istvan Bartalis.

That result gives Hungary only its second win in the top division since the 1930s and puts the Magyars up to sixth in the group, ahead of Austria and Germany. Bertrand, disappointed, explained what he felt was lacking from the French: “I felt like during all 60 minutes, [Hungary] played with a lot of anger and grit. It was difficult to match it and they won more battles than us, I feel. So it’s a pretty disappointing result.”

Tuesday’s other Group A action saw Denmark defeat Austria 6-2 in the early game, with former Jokerit man Nicklas Jensen among the goals.

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