SB Nation Winter Olympics Hockey
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Zach Parise tallied two goals and Ryan Miller recorded the first American shutout in the Olympics since the '02 Games as USA eked out a win over Switzerland. They now await the winner of Finland-Czech Republic.
A crazy sequence seemingly ended in another U.S. goal, yet Ryan Kesler's interference penalty negated the goal.
First, a Swiss shot on an odd-man advantage looked to have scored but play continued despite the goal light going off. The puck had hit off the low post, and all NBC announcers were convinced the puck had gone in. On the other end of the ice, the United States scored but the goal was immediately waved off.
Some questioned whether it was negated because of a goal on the other end, but in reality it was an interference penalty by Kesler that stopped play. The U.S. killed off the penalty with several big saves by Ryan Miller, and hold a 1-0 lead midway through the third.
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More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
Just as we're talking about how the USA can't get anything past Jonas Hiller, and especially not on the power play, Zach Parise scores a hard working, power play goal.
Brian Rafalski with another brilliant shot from the point, timing his release perfectly to get through traffic, and Parise jumped on the rebound. Hiller was caught out of position as he jumped to knock the puck down, and Parise reached around and knocked the puck in.
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More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
In the waning seconds of the second period, it appeared as if the United States had finally figured out how to beat Jonas Hiller: let him score on himself.
Hiller attempted to bat a puck out of the air, instead knocking the loose puck onto his shoulder. In his attempt to gain control, he falls back and knocks the puck into his own goal. It appeared as if they had finally scored, had finally gotten on the board against a goaltender playing an absolutely brilliant goal.
Yet the goal was disallowed, as it was scored after time expired. Like, 0.10 seconds after time expired.
Time had expired literally a split second before the puck crossed the goal line. Unlike in basketball, where a shot let go before the buzzer counts, in hockey the puck has to completely cross the goal line before time expires to be counted.
USA is outshooting Switzerland 34-8, yet have come no closer to scoring than they did in the first. Not counting the goal that didn't count of course.
They're also 0-for-3 on the power play, and can't seem to generate any chances with the man-advantage. Like I said earlier, a dangerous game for the U.S. One goal by the Swiss, and all this hard work and all those shots mean zilch.
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More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
While we wait for someone to score in this USA-Switzerland quarterfinal match, I thought it would be a good time to point out what we’re all thinking: The Swiss uniforms are a work of art:
Simple. Classic. With an understated, less is more approach to design. Unlike America, which went with stars with FLAMES coming off of them and the letters "U-S-A" as big as possible across the chest.
Not that I’ve noticed their outfits or anything. Because I’m ALL MAN BABY and couldn’t care less about the latest winter sporting fashions.
This is the type of game that is extremely dangerous for the United States, with Jonas Hiller playing out of his mind on one of the ice and and Ryan Miller a bit bored on the other. One goal by the Swiss and it could be a backbreaker for the USA as they've outplayed Switzerland for the most part, but so far have nothing to show for it.
After outshooting the Swiss 18-4 in the first period, the United States needs to find some way to take advantage of the opportunities they've been given. What they cannot allow is to continue to push and push and then get caught out of position, giving the Swiss another big chance on the other end of the ice.
Jonas Hiller is beat when he gets moving laterally; US players are getting good chances but most are from straight on, shots that Hiller can see. More traffic out front, and better shots up high. Joe Pavelski nearly scored through a screen, but his shot clanged off the post and away from trouble.
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More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
The United States has continued its aggressive approach and fast starts, putting 15 shots on goal and having several one on one chances in the offensive zone. They're outworking the Swiss along the boards and on the forecheck, creating numerous turnovers and several point-blank shots.
Yet Jonas Hiller has been absolutely outstanding so far, not only stopping every shot he's faced but finding some way to control the rebounds as well. Team USA has had several big shots, including one off the post, but have yet to get many second-chance opportunities.
It's 0-0 late in the first period.
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More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
3:00 PM ET / 12:00 PM PT: #1 United States vs #8 Switzerland
Broadcast details: Live coverage on NBC (real, live, actual NBC!) and NBCOlympics.com
The United States is the top seed, and by virtue of that they have the easiest road to the gold medal game. That doesn't mean that Switzerland can't knock them off or that the Americans are taking the Swiss lightly, though. Sure, they barely squeezed by Belarus yesterday and they're likely fatigued from playing 70 minutes of hockey just the day before, but this is the same Swiss team that played the US tough in the tournament opener, falling 3-1.
Jonas Hiller will have to be on his A game to beat the USA, and the Swiss will likely need some extra help. You never know, however, what a team will play like in a big game with the adrenaline rushing. Just look back to Sunday, when the Americans came flying out of the gate against a more-skilled Canadian group. The USA should win today, but that doesn't mean they will if they don't leave it all on the ice.
The winner will move on to the semifinals against the winner of the Finland-Czech Republic quarterfinal match up.
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More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
Parise's Two Goals, Miller's Shutout Sends USA To Semifinals
The United States continues its gutsy run toward a gold medal, beating Switzerland 2-0 to move on to the semifinals and to get the chance to at least play for a bronze medal.
Zach Parise broke the scoreless game in the third period with a hard-working power play goal, and Ryan Miller made 18 saves in the game to become the first American goaltender with a shutout since the 2002 Olympics. Miller needed to make several big saves in the third period when the Swiss put the pressure on with 11 shots, most in the final minutes. Yet Parise iced the win with his second of the game, scoring an empty-net goal with 10 seconds remaining.
The United States will next face the winner of tonight's Finland-Czech Republic game, with the semifinal game starting at 3:00 p.m. EST on Friday afternoon.
More: SB Nation’s full coverage of the Winter Olympics and the 2010 Winter Olympics Medal Count Tracker.
Feb 24 5:23p by Brandon Worley - 0 comments