Phoebe Stanze and Lara Stalder also scored for Switzerland at Rosengards Ishall. Netminder Florence Schelling, the 2014 Olympic MVP, earned the win with 28 saves.

The Germans called a time-out with under 10 minutes remaining in the third, and got their second goal from Andrea Lanzl after pulling goalie Jennifer Harss with 2:43 remaining. But that was as close as they’d get. Anna-Maria Fiegert scored Germany’s first goal halfway through the game.

The Swiss, who won their first Olympic bronze in Sochi last year, are hoping to reach the podium for the first and only time at the Women’s Worlds since 2012’s bronze in Burlington, Vermont. Their power play so far provides reason for optimism, as it clicked three times versus Germany.

This result gave Switzerland a slight edge in the all-time World Championship series between these two neighbouring rivals (five wins to four).

Switzerland will take on Sweden on Sunday, while Germany confronts Japan that day.