Will the Swiss go down against Russia?
Clear the curtain for the ice hockey tournament at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing! On Wednesday, the time has come: With Russia, which still participates in the transnational sports tournaments as “ROC” after the doping scandal almost three years ago, and Switzerland, two major ice hockey nations will meet.
As expected, the Russian national ice hockey team is seen as one of the favourites for the Olympic title. Currently, the best bookmakers are offering odds of 1.48 on Russia vs. Switzerland ice hockey for a bet on the “ROC “
The last time the two nations met in the 2021 Ice Hockey World Cup, Russia won outright 4-1 just under a year ago. It is quite possible that the “ROC” will ensure a clear balance of power this time as well and bag the next victory against the Swiss.
Compared to the Swiss, the red machine undoubtedly has the stronger squad. Although there are no NHL players in the “ROC’s” Olympic line-up, there are some top-class players from the Russian KHL, undoubtedly the strongest ice hockey organisation in Europe. The NHL refused to release the players for the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Russia – Statistics & current form
At the last Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, the Russian national ice hockey team won the gold medal for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union. As defending champions, Russia now starts this year’s Winter Olympics and is – at least according to the bookmakers – once again a hot candidate for the title.
Due to the doping scandal almost three years ago, Russia will be listed as the “Russian Olympic Committee” (ROC) at the 2022 Olympics. Russia already took part in last year’s World Championships as the “ROC”. The Russian national ice hockey team was only eliminated in the quarter-finals by the eventual tournament winners from Canada.
Although Russia did not participate in the 2021 World Cup in its best line-up, the result was quite commendable. It is quite possible that this will be followed up at the Winter Olympics in China. The “ROC” is already favoured in the group opener against the Swiss national ice hockey team.
Does ROC roll over the Swiss?
The Red Machine already met the Swiss at the group stage of the 2021 World Cup. Back then, the Russian national team scored a 4:1 victory over the Swiss. Sergey Tolchinsky not only scored two goals, but also recorded another assist. With three scoring points, the Avangard Omsk winger was undoubtedly “Man of the Match”.
If Tolchinsky leads his team to another victory against the Swiss, Russia vs. Switzerland Ice Hockey pays out decent odds in the 1.50 range for tip 1. National coach Alexei Zhamnov has plenty of options for rotation with his top-class squad from the KHL.
The most valuable players in the ranks of the Red Machine are undoubtedly Shipachyov and Kuzmenko, the two best scorers in the Russian KHL. Vadim Shipachyov in particular is a secret weapon, after all, the 34-year-old veteran caused a sensation in the KHL with 67 scorer points (24 goals, 43 assists).
Switzerland – Statistics & current form
The Swiss will have to do without their NHL stars at the Winter Olympics in Beijing. National coach Patrick Fischer is therefore relying exclusively on players from the Swiss National League. Accordingly, it is not at all surprising that the “Nati” are only among the outsiders at the Winter Olympics.
Since the bronze medal at the 1948 Olympics, the Swiss national ice hockey team has lagged behind the high expectations at the prestigious winter tournament. In the last 74 years, the best result at a Winter Olympics was sixth place.
That place came at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy. At the last Winter Olympics in 2018, however, Switzerland only finished tenth. The Swiss were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Their final opponent was the German national ice hockey team, who narrowly beat the red-and-whites from Switzerland 2-1
Switzerland with well-rehearsed team at the Olympics
Although Russia’s group opponents are rated far stronger than the Swiss, the well-rehearsed Swiss should by no means be underestimated. National coach Patrick Fischer does not have any star players from the NHL at his disposal, but he does have the crème de la crème of the Swiss National League.
Denis Malgin is the most valuable player in the Swiss ranks. In the league, Malgin caused a sensation at club level with 44 scorer points for the Zurich team and is therefore also seeded for the Olympics. It is quite possible that the Swiss will also underpin his strong season in the national team.
Nevertheless, we think it is more than risky to make a prediction on the Red and Whites in Russia vs. Switzerland ice hockey given the Swiss’ manageable Olympic line-up. Especially since the Swiss don’t have the best record against the Russian national ice hockey team anyway.
Russia – Switzerland Direct Comparison / H2H-Balance
This is the 30th time the two teams have met. The Russian national ice hockey team leads the direct comparison against the Swiss with a record of 21-2-6. Last year, the two nations met in the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championship. Russia won 4-1 on that occasion.
Just under four months ago, the two nations also played a test match in which the Russian Red Machine did not field its best team. Despite playing with a B eleven, the Russian national team only lost 3-2 against the Swiss.
Russia – Switzerland Tip
With the NHL not fielding any players for the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Russia enters the current tournament as clear favourites with the Olympic line-up from the KHL. A defence of the title is quite obvious for the high-calibre national ice hockey team in view of its competitors who are weakened in terms of replacements.
Already at the start of the group, we tend to expect a show of strength from the “Sbornaja”, who will secure the first important points in the group with Denmark, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The Swiss have already struggled enormously in a test match against a B-team of Russia almost four months ago.
The last time Russia met the Swiss at the 2021 Ice Hockey World Championship, the result was a clear 4:1, when the Swiss were even in their best line-up with NHL stars. We don’t rule out a similar result this time either and therefore dare to bet on a victory for Russia with at least a two-goal lead.
