After riding a high from an upset victory over Canada last Sunday, it was back to business for the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team, who beat Switzerland 2–0.
The Swiss, at least on paper, were less talented than Canada but the Stars and Stripes couldn’t afford to underestimate their opponent. The Olympic ice hockey tourney is in the single-elimination stage and a loss would end the quest for gold.
Unlike the last red and white clad team it faced, the Americans weren’t able to get a quick first goal in this one.
While U.S. goalie Ryan Miller stood on his head in last Sunday’s game against Canada, Swiss backstop Jonas Hiller was the busier goalie in this game stopping 42 of 43 shots.
Despite Hiller’s play, the USA appeared to be robbed of a goal in the dying seconds of the second period.
U.S. center Ryan Kesler fired a shot at the Swiss net and Hiller batted the puck out of the air but he hit it in such a way that it went over him, floating into the net.
The puck definitely crossed the line but the question then became, did it pass the line before the horn sounded to end the second?
The referee ruled it was no goal upon further review.
American supporters felt that they had been robbed but they got their due 2:08 into the third frame, when forward Zach Parise beat Hiller on the power play, in a play eerily familiar to the one that ended the second stanza.
Each team had near-goal experiences early in the third, within minutes of one another, when Switzerland’s Sandy Jeannin fired a shot that went along the goal line, but not over, and hit the post. Then the U.S. gathered the puck and appeared to score in transition.
Unfortunately, Kesler was assessed a high sticking minor and the goal was disallowed.
The U.S. had the edge in play through two periods firing 32 shots at Hiller while Miller only faced 8 shots but the Swiss turned up the heat in the final period peppering the American net with 11 shots on goal.
With the game on the line, Switzerland head coach Ralph Krueger decided to take a gamble, pulling Hiller with 1:43 left in the third.
The two teams tussled for a minute and a half before Parise skated into the Swiss zone and shot the puck into the empty net.
The goal sealed the deal for Team USA, who will move on to play the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Finland and the Czech Republic.
In other action, Canada routed Russia 7–3 in a morale booster after their loss to the U.S. last Sunday.
The U.S. has reached the semifinal. They will be favored to progress past either the Czechs or the Fins. Things are on track for a repeat of the Miracle on Ice of 1980.
The Swiss, at least on paper, were less talented than Canada but the Stars and Stripes couldn’t afford to underestimate their opponent. The Olympic ice hockey tourney is in the single-elimination stage and a loss would end the quest for gold.
Unlike the last red and white clad team it faced, the Americans weren’t able to get a quick first goal in this one.
While U.S. goalie Ryan Miller stood on his head in last Sunday’s game against Canada, Swiss backstop Jonas Hiller was the busier goalie in this game stopping 42 of 43 shots.
Despite Hiller’s play, the USA appeared to be robbed of a goal in the dying seconds of the second period.
U.S. center Ryan Kesler fired a shot at the Swiss net and Hiller batted the puck out of the air but he hit it in such a way that it went over him, floating into the net.
The puck definitely crossed the line but the question then became, did it pass the line before the horn sounded to end the second?
The referee ruled it was no goal upon further review.
American supporters felt that they had been robbed but they got their due 2:08 into the third frame, when forward Zach Parise beat Hiller on the power play, in a play eerily familiar to the one that ended the second stanza.
Each team had near-goal experiences early in the third, within minutes of one another, when Switzerland’s Sandy Jeannin fired a shot that went along the goal line, but not over, and hit the post. Then the U.S. gathered the puck and appeared to score in transition.
Unfortunately, Kesler was assessed a high sticking minor and the goal was disallowed.
The U.S. had the edge in play through two periods firing 32 shots at Hiller while Miller only faced 8 shots but the Swiss turned up the heat in the final period peppering the American net with 11 shots on goal.
With the game on the line, Switzerland head coach Ralph Krueger decided to take a gamble, pulling Hiller with 1:43 left in the third.
The two teams tussled for a minute and a half before Parise skated into the Swiss zone and shot the puck into the empty net.
The goal sealed the deal for Team USA, who will move on to play the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between Finland and the Czech Republic.
In other action, Canada routed Russia 7–3 in a morale booster after their loss to the U.S. last Sunday.
The U.S. has reached the semifinal. They will be favored to progress past either the Czechs or the Fins. Things are on track for a repeat of the Miracle on Ice of 1980.
