SWISS INTO SEMIS AFTER DROPPING RUSSIANS

PENTICTON, B.C. ' The fairytale debut for Switzerland continues at the 2010 World Junior A Challenge, asthe Swiss defeated Russia 5-1 on Tuesday night to clinch first place in Group B and book their spot inSaturday's semifinals.

Making their first-ever appearance at the tournament, the Swiss have scored wins over last year's silverand bronze medallists, including their 5-4 overtime victory over Canada West on Monday.

Facing a Russian team that had not played since a 7-4 exhibition win over Canada East on Saturday night,Switzerland (2-0) jumped into an early lead, with Samuel Guerra's point shot beating Denis Perevozchikov just42 seconds after the opening face-off.

Despite the Swiss throwing 17 shots at Perevozchikov, that would be the only puck to elude the Russiannetminder in the opening 20 minutes.

Russia (0-1) picked up the offence in period two, racking up 18 shots on goal, but could not find a way tobeat Remo Giovannini, who was spectacular throughout, making 38 saves en route to a well-deserved Player ofthe Game honour.

The teams combined for 35 shots in the middle frame, but only one found the back of the net ' GregoryHofmann chased down a loose puck in the corner and found a streaking Inti Pestoni, who tipped the puck pastPerevozchikov for a shorthanded marker.

The Swiss began to put some distance between themselves and the Russians early in the third period, thanksto a pair of Gaëtan Haas goals just 61 seconds apart. Reto Schäppi put the final nail in the coffin at 13:24,neatly sliding the puck past Perevozchikov on a partial breakaway.

Alexey Shubin finally ended Giovannini's shutout bid with just under four minutes to go, snapping a powerplay goal past a sprawling Swiss netminder.

The two teams combined to set a World Junior A Challenge record for most combined shots in one game with91, two more than the previous mark of 89 set by Germany and Belarus on November 11, 2006.

While the Swiss while enjoy three days off before Saturday's semis, the Russians get right back to actionon Wednesday, facing Canada West in the final game of the preliminary round (7:30 p.m. PT).