Despont, Swiss win again at WJC

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Vincent Despont and Team Switzerland picked up their second win of the IIHF World Junior Championship on Tuesday.

Here's a quick recap of day two tournament action.

• Switzerland defeated Latvia 3-2 in a shootout at Avenir Centre, earning their second win of this year's tournament. The Swiss were down 2-1 late in the third but scored in the final two minutes to send the match to extra time and eventually a shootout.
• Despont, who was once again Switzerland's seventh defenseman, had 5:02 of ice time in the game, which was a bit more than he played in the opener. He took an interference penalty in the first period.
• The Swiss have two wins but have only earned four of a possible six points because both of their victories came in extra time. They are tied with Finland atop Group B.
• Tuesday's other Group B game in Moncton saw Finland down Slovakia 5-2.
• In Group A action in Halifax, Sweden hung on for a 1-0 win over Germany before Czechia defeated Austria 9-0. 
• TSN's Craig Button, who was unable to make it to Moncton for Monday's action due to all the travel/weather chaos, was in the broadcast booth on Tuesday.
• Always cool to see the crowds get behind the underdog teams. The Halifax crowd was really pushing hard for an Austrian goal in the third period.
• The Toronto Star correctly notes that the Halifax airport is too far from... anything.
• The IIHF website has a story on Moncton Wildcats Jonas Taibel and Miles Muller getting to play for Team Switzerland in their home arena.
• Day two attendance numbers: noon - 4,617; 2:30 p.m. - 7,632; 5 p.m. - 3,817; and 7:30 p.m. - 7,105.
• At the Spengler Cup, Chris DiDomenico and Team Canada fell to 0-2 with a 2-1 loss to HC Davos. The Canadians have Wednesday off to prepare for a quarterfinal on Thursday.
• Former Sea Dogs defenseman Joona Lehmas was in the IFK Helsinki lineup on Tuesday in their 5-2 loss to Orebro HK. Lehmus took a delay of game penalty in the loss.

There are only two games at the world juniors on Wednesday with the United States taking on Slovakia in Moncton at 5 p.m. and Canada facing Germany in Halifax at 7:30 p.m.

Lastly, here's Despont trading a puck for some candy.

Solid trade if you ask us 🤝#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/dkkLCrj6Pn

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 27, 2022