gusman
02-24-2010, 11:05 AM
Wed, Feb 24 (Day13), 12:00p PT
What's at stake: The victor advances to the semi-finals Friday against the winner of the Finland-Czech Republic match. Switzerland advanced in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 shootout victory over Belarus, after the teams played a scoreless 10-minute overtime period. It's hard not to think the Swiss will be emotionally drained by needing to play again within 24 hours. This is the ninth meeting all-time between the Swiss and Americans at the Olympics. The U.S. has won eight; its only loss coming in 1948 at the St. Moritz Olympics. U.S. coach Ron Wilson spent six years playing in Switzerland's Nainaliga A as a player in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Who to watch: In a rematch of a preliminary round game won 3-1 by the United States, the focus will be on the goaltenders - Ryan Miller of the United States and Jonas Hiller of Switzerland, both of whom have been excellent thus far. Defenceman Brian Rafalski unexpectedly leads the U.S. in scoring with four goals and has been a dominating presence, with his uncanny ability to read the plays and force turnovers.
What's at stake: The victor advances to the semi-finals Friday against the winner of the Finland-Czech Republic match. Switzerland advanced in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 shootout victory over Belarus, after the teams played a scoreless 10-minute overtime period. It's hard not to think the Swiss will be emotionally drained by needing to play again within 24 hours. This is the ninth meeting all-time between the Swiss and Americans at the Olympics. The U.S. has won eight; its only loss coming in 1948 at the St. Moritz Olympics. U.S. coach Ron Wilson spent six years playing in Switzerland's Nainaliga A as a player in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Who to watch: In a rematch of a preliminary round game won 3-1 by the United States, the focus will be on the goaltenders - Ryan Miller of the United States and Jonas Hiller of Switzerland, both of whom have been excellent thus far. Defenceman Brian Rafalski unexpectedly leads the U.S. in scoring with four goals and has been a dominating presence, with his uncanny ability to read the plays and force turnovers.