Switzerland beat the defending champion United States 3-1 on Friday in Zurich, turning a rematch of last year’s final into a far more one-sided finish. Pius Suter struck from close range 2:03 into the first period, Sven Andrighetto added another goal with 8:41 left in the opening frame, and Switzerland never gave the U.S. room to settle in.

Leonardo Genoni stopped 19 shots, and Switzerland got another key late goal when Ken Jager deflected in a shot by Simon Knak with 3:39 left to seal it. Alex Steeves scored for the United States 8:45 into the final period, but the Americans could not build on it. Suter and Andrighetto each finished with two-point games, giving Switzerland the kind of top-line production it had been chasing for years.

The result mattered because it came against the team that beat Switzerland 1-0 in overtime in last year’s final in Stockholm and arrived at these worlds as the reigning champion. Switzerland had finished runner-up in the previous two years, so Friday’s victory was more than a strong opening night; it was a chance to show it can push through at the very end after coming close twice before. The United States won its second world championship last year and its first since 1933, a breakthrough that now has to survive an early stumble.

There was a second layer to the day in Switzerland. Earlier Friday in Fribourg, Canada opened the tournament by beating Sweden 5-3, with John Tavares, Ryan O'Reilly, Dylan Holloway, Connor Brown and Dylan Cozens all scoring and Jet Greaves making 22 saves. Canada remains the most successful nation in the event with 28 titles, though it last won the trophy three years ago, and Sidney Crosby was added late to the roster after the Pittsburgh Penguins were eliminated in the first round of the NHL playoffs.

For Switzerland, the win is the kind that changes the tone of a tournament fast. For the United States, Sunday’s meeting with Britain comes quickly, but Friday in Zurich showed that being champion buys no easy nights once the worlds begin.