PORT ALBERNI, B.C. — Luca Jan Hollenstein made 17 saves and Nicolas Muller scored the eventual game-winner as Switzerland edged Kazakhstan 4-1 on Friday in a pre-tournament game ahead of the world junior hockey championship.
Matthew Verboon, Philipp Kurashev and Justin Sigrist, on the power play, rounded out the scoring for the Swiss.
Samat Daniyar scored the lone goal for Kazakhstan, ending Hollenstein's shutout bid at 12:56 of the third period.
Vladislav Nurek stopped 19-of-23 shots in a losing effort for Kazakhstan.
Switzerland scored on 1 of 4 power-play opportunities, while Kazakhstan was scoreless in three chances with the man advantage.
Switzerland will face Russia in another pre-tournament tune up Sunday.
The world junior hockey championship begins on Dec. 26 in Vancouver and Victoria.
The Canadian Press
