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GDT: Canada vs. Switzerland - Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 8:00 am ET on TSN

9K views 30 replies 6 participants last post by  Francisaso_11 
#1 ·
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-CANADA ---------- SWITZERLAND

Canada, Swiss all set for quarterfinals
Canadian Press
5/8/2007 1:02:16 PM


MOSCOW (CP) - The Canadians and Swiss have a lot more in common than the recent Olympic upset that fans haven't forgotten in either country.

Start with Paul DiPietro of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., who scored both Swiss goals in that 2-0 upset win in Turin, or look to Winnipeg-born coach Ralph Krueger, who has helped turn around the national program in Switzerland.

Neither had to go into hiding last summer when they returned to Canada. DiPietro didn't find himself down any friends during a visit to Montreal and there was no damage to Krueger's summer home in Kenora, Ont.

"Canadians are great that way - they love underdogs and they love upsets," Krueger said after Switzerland's practice on Tuesday. "Even if it beats their own. I felt nothing but a positive respect when I got back to the lake.

"I thought my boats would be sunk or something ... but they weren't."

It works in reverse as well.

Canadian coach Andy Murray spent eight years coaching in Switzerland early in his career and has a son, Brady, playing there for Rapperswil-Jona. Forward Rick Nash also won a Swiss League championship with HC Davos during the NHL lockout.

As if that wasn't enough, Canada is currently staying at the luxurious Swissotel in the centre of Moscow.

"We're going to have to check our food tomorrow," joked Murray. "Maybe we'll get you reporters to try it first."

Even that won't be necessary.

By pure coincidence, the hotel is celebrating Canada Week and a chef from the Banff Springs Hotel is preparing the meals. Consider it another example of the good relations between the nations.

Two days before Thursday's quarter-final game between Canada and Switzerland (TSN, 8am et/5am pt), the mood among the teams was nothing but friendly and respectful.

Murray lauded Krueger and the gains made by his country while the Swiss coach made it sound like his team was about to face a completely unbeatable Canadian squad.

"We need perfection on Thursday, which we aren't demanding from the players," said Krueger. "The best game we've played out of the seven has to be on Thursday and then we have a very slight chance.

"Canada is just an absolute dominant favourite."

Of course, that kind of talk means very little to Canadians like Nash, Shane Doan or Eric Staal, who were all in the Esposizioni Arena during the last Olympics.

Nobody saw that loss coming.

"I think most guys were shocked," said Nash.

Staal was a reserve player and remembers watching the upset happen from the stands. Goalie Martin Gerber, his Carolina Hurricanes teammate at the time, made 49 saves while DiPietro got the big goals.

He knows it could happen again.

"There's a lot of good players that play in Europe, never mind that they don't maybe have long, successful NHL careers," said Staal. "If you don't play well or the way you want to, they can beat you like anybody.

"That's what happened on that occasion."

At least no one will be able to claim that they were caught off-guard if it happens on another.

The captain Doan has already talked to his teammates here at the world championship about the game in Turin.

"You definitely don't forget something like that," said Doan.

Murray is a master of positive thinking and has spun the Olympic loss into a positive scenario. While it certainly gives the Swiss some confidence, he says it also means that Canada is more familiar with the potential danger its opposition possesses.

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#27 ·
Canada wins!!! 5-1! Canada's next game is against Sweden on Saturday. Go Canada Go!

Players of the game:
Dwayne Roloson
Andreas Ambuhl


Players of the Tournament for Switzerland:
Jonas Hiller
Mark Streit
Sandy Jeannin


1st period Summary:


Goals:
15:22 - Matthew Lombardi (unassisted)


Penalties:
3:24 - Goran Bezina 2 minutes for tripping.
11:41 - Julien Sprunger 2 minutes for boarding.
17:51 - Mike Commodore 2 minutes for elbowing.


Shots on goal:
Team Canada - 18
Team Switzerland - 8


-----------------------------------------------------------

2nd period Summary:


Goals:
9:05 - Jamal Mayers ( Cory Murphy, Jasom Chimera)
9:43 - Paul DiPietro ((Marc Reichert, Duri Camichel)
14:40 - Rick Nash ( Dion Phaneuf, Eric Staal) PP


Penalties:
]
:17 - Martin Steinegger 2 minutes for hooking.
12:51 - Goran Bezina 2 minutes for boarding.
13:40 - Andreas Ambuhl 2 minutes for interference.



Shots on goal:
Team Canada - 30
Team Switzerland - 13

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3rd period summary:


Goals:
6:03 - Matthew Lombardi(2) (Dion Phaneuf, Shane Doan) PP
17:31 - Shea Weber (Shane Doan, Eric Staal)


Penalties:
:29 - Rich Nash 2 minutes for elbowing.

4:50 - Marc Reichert 2 minutes for interference.

5:29 - Andreas Ambuhl 2 minutes for high sticking.

5:29 - Eric Staal 2 minutes for interference.

6:51 - Jason Chimera 2 minutes for slashing.

10:37 - Marc Reichert 2 minutes for holding
.
10:59 - Beat Gerber 2 minutes for hooking.




Total shots on goal:
Team Canada - 44

Team Switzerland - 22
 
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