Poulin helps Canada to win over Switzerland at women's hockey worlds

Marie-Philip Poulin was Canada's catalyst with three assists in a 4-0 win over Switzerland at the women's world hockey championship Friday.

Micah Zandee-Hart, Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey and Daryl Watts scored for Canada (2-0).

Ann-Renee Desbiens posted a 17-save shutout in her first start since suffering a lower-body injury March 18 in a Professional Women's Hockey League game with the Montreal Victoire.

At 36 goals and 46 assists for 82 points, Poulin closed in on Hayley Wickenheiser's Canadian tournament records for points (86) and assists (49).

Canada's captain, who assisted on her country's first three goals Friday, was also five goals away from breaking Jayna Hefford's goals record of 40.

Swiss goaltender Andrea Braendli made 36 saves in front of an announced 5,395.

Canada stepped back on the Ceske Budejovice Arena ice less than 18 hours after blanking Finland 5-0 the previous night.

WATCH | Canada shuts out Swizterland:

Canada silences Switzerland at world championships with 2nd period blitz

The defending champions get a breather Saturday before another back-to-back against archrival United States on Sunday and the host Czechs on Monday.

The Swiss were feistier than the Finns and generated more forays into Canada's zone.

Former Ohio State goalie Braendli was tough early, but the victim of porous defence during Canada's three-goal burst in a span of two minutes 32 seconds in the second period.

Watts scored her first world championship goal at 9:46 by circling deep into the zone and unleashing a low sharp-angled shot far side on Braendli.

That was just 40 seconds after Poulin drove the net to send a backhand pass to Stacey to one-time by the Swiss goalie.

A second goal by Watts in the second period didn't