Pastrnak powers Czechia to gold vs. Switzerland at Worlds

Czechia's David Pastrnak broke a scoreless tie in the third period to lift the tournament hosts to a 2-0 gold-medal-clinching victory over Switzerland at the 2024 IIHF World Championship on Sunday.

David Kampf sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. Lukas Dostal was outstanding in net, turning aside 31 shots to secure the shutout.

The contest's final frame was delayed for over six minutes after Czechia forward Ondrej Palat cracked the glass with a big hit on Switzerland's Andrea Glauser.

Pastrnak scored shortly after play resumed for his first point in his fourth game at the event. He joined Czechia late at the tournament after his Boston Bruins were eliminated from the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This is Czechia's first gold at the world championships since 2010. The nation last won the event on home soil in 1985. Switzerland has never finished atop the podium and last medaled in 2018 when it captured silver.

Switzerland's Kevin Fiala was named tournament MVP and top forward after recording seven goals and 13 points in eight contests, placing second in tournament scoring at the Worlds. Dostal was named top goaltender, while Roman Josi was tabbed top defenseman.

Fiala, Roman Cervenka, Dylan Cozens, Josi, Erik Karlsson, and Dostal were named to the media's All-Star team.