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ENERGETIC SWISS SURPRISE USA EN ROUTE TO TIE
By John Kurucz |
Box Score
Despite being outshot and outmatched, Team Switzerland gave the Americans all they could handle in an
exciting, come-from-behind 2-2 tie at the Pacific Coliseum December 30.
After three games, Team USA sports a record of two wins and one tie, while the Swiss currently have three
points in Group A play.
Both teams will play their final Round Robin games December 31, with the Swiss taking on Finland while
Team USA suits up against Canada.
“We have a great deal of respect for what they’ve done, and we have a great deal of respect for who they
are, but we have to be ready when the puck drops tomorrow,” Kyle said of the prospect of facing Canada.
“Canada’s always been the dominant team ever since the early 90’s,” said the USA’s Robbie Schremp. “I
think we’re starting to put ourselves on the map in the tournament. I think this should be a good tilt.”
The Canadians can now claim top spot in Group A simply by tying the USA.
In this game, Mathias Joggi paced the Swiss, notching the game-tying goal with 5:52 left and picking up an
assist on his team’s first goal by Eric Blum at 7:53 of the third period. Both goals came on the power
play.
“It was a great point for us, coming back for a 2-2 tie,” said Swiss Head Coach Jakob Kolliker. “For our
team it’s pretty good.”
Geoff Paukovich and Bobby Ryan had the American goals.
“I liked the standard of officiating tonight,” Kyle said. “It was pretty good for us until the third, when
we took some stupid penalties. I think that certainly affected us. We scored a couple of goals early, but
then we didn’t get the job done the rest of the way out.”
Team USA netminder Cory Schneider stopped 22 of 24 shots, while Reto Berra made 32 saves on 34 shots in
the Swiss nets.
“He played well,” said Erik John of Berra’s performance. “He’s played well against Canada too. He’s kept
them in there and tonight he played a good game.”
After posting a tournament-high 17 goals in its first two games, the USA looked almost awe-struck in the
early moments of the first period, as Team Switzerland came out playing a fast-paced, high-energy brand of
hockey.
The Swiss registered two excellent scoring chances in the game’s opening minutes and threw solid
bodychecks at the Americans.
From there, however, the Americans seemed to find their legs, and opened up the scoring at 6:16 by
capitalizing on a defensive miscue caused by Team Switzerland’s boisterous opening play. With both Swiss
defencemen looking for a big hit in the corner, Geoff Paukovich was left alone in front of the net, and the
19-year-old forward tapped in a centering pass from Nathan Davis to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.
After conceding the game’s first goal, Team Switzerland took two consecutive penalties.
A dazzling burst of speed courtesy of Nate Gerbe nearly put the Americans up by two at the 13:23 mark. The
Boston College product drove wide to the right side of the Swiss defence before cutting in on Berra, and just
missed lifting a backhand over the Swiss keeper’s shoulder.
The USA made it 2-0 at 16:59, as Bobby Ryan converted the rebound of a Robbie Schremp slapshot from just
over the blueline. Though Berra controlled the initial long shot, the rebound trickled down his blocker side
padding, allowing for a simple tap-in for the future Anaheim Mighty Ducks forward.
The second period saw the Swiss start off with the man advantage, as USA defenceman Jack Johnson was
called for elbowing at the conclusion of the first frame.
Though the second period of play failed to produce a goal, the two teams exchanged a number of quality
scoring chances.
At the 10-minute mark, the Swiss forward line of Julien Sprunger, Mathias Bieber and Julian Walker pressed
the American defence corps, with Sprunger ringing a shot off the left post.
Seconds later, Team USA wunderkind Phil Kessel checked in with his first highlight-reel moment, as the
American forward rang a shot off the post after a faceoff.
Less than two minutes later, Team USA’s Nathan Davis was sent in on a clear breakaway, but his
backhand-forehand deke was foiled by the outstretched right pad of Berra.
Sprunger’s chance at 19:29 was arguably Switzerland’s best chance of the period, but his shot from just
inside the hashmarks was contained by Schneider.
The Swiss started the third period with a distinct sense of urgency, and they induced the USA to run into
penalty problems.
The Swiss finally got on the board at 7:53 as a result of a Erik Johnson tripping penalty.
In an awkward-looking play, defenceman Eric Blum’s shot from behind the goal line bounced off Schneider’s
back and into the net.
“It surprised me a little bit,” said Schneider. “I didn’t see the guy right there on the doorstep, so it’s
my fault for not being on the post.”
Team USA’s penalty problems continued from there, and the Americans found themselves two men short just
after the 12-minute mark, with Jack Johnson and Blake Wheeler heading to the box.
The Swiss tied the affair at 14:08, as forward Mathias Jogge tapped in a lovely cross-crease pass from
Matthias Bieber.
Although Berra was called for delay of game after knocking his net off the moorings with 3:04 remaining,
the Swiss weathered the USA storm and hung on for the draw.
“It’s probably more of a victory for [the Swiss],” said Schneider. “We’re focused on tomorrow’s game, so
you can’t dwell on that.”
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