Mon, Feb 20, 2006 - Page 20 News List

Swiss can play hockey

STUNNER Defending men's Olympic gold medalist Canada was shut out by Switzerland 2-0 in Group A

AP , TURIN AND PINEROLO, ITALY

Canadian Martin Brodeur fails to stop the second goal by Paul di Pietro of Switzerland during the men's preliminary round at the Torino Esposizioni in Turin, Italy. Switzerland defeated Canada 2-0.

PHOTO: AFP

First, the Swiss stunned the world champion Czechs.

They topped that Saturday, embarrassing defending men's Olympic gold medalist Canada 2-0 -- the latest upset in only three days of men's hockey.

Canadian-born Paul DiPietro scored twice in the Group A game. Canada is 2-1 and still must face its toughest group opponents -- Finland and Czech Republic. The lower Canada finishes in the group, the tougher its quarterfinal matchup may be.

Swiss forward Flavien Conne said any notion beforehand of beating both Canada and the Czechs seemed absurd.

"Are you crazy, man?" he said. "With the players they have, it would be impossible."

Defenseman Mark Streit, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens, said the victory rated above Thursday's 3-2 upset of the Czechs. He called that one "a miracle."

"We had another unbelievable game, actually a perfect game," he said.

The Swiss have only two men's Olympic hockey medals -- bronzes in 1928 and 1948. Now they have only Germany and Italy to play and a chance to top the group.

Finland and Slovakia have the only unblemished records.

Finland defeated the Czech Republic 4-2 to top Group A, and Germany rallied to draw 3-3 with Italy -- a result likely to eliminate both from reaching the quarterfinals.

In Group B, Slovakia defeated the US 2-1, Sweden overwhelmed Latvia 6-1, and Russia edged Kazakhstan 1-0. The top four in each group reach the quarterfinals.

Former NHLer DiPietro did the scoring and goalie Martin Gerber turned aside 49 shots for the Swiss. They have a Canadian coach -- Ralph Krueger -- and were cheered by hundreds of arena-rocking fans.

The Swiss took the lead at 18:19 of the first, DiPietro beating Martin Brodeur off a feed from Patric Della Rossa. He made it 2-0 at 8:47 of the second, taking advantage when Canada was two men short.

"We tried to rely on talent and it wasn't good enough," Canada coach Pat Quinn said. "And if we don't learn from that, we will be going home early."

Marcel Goc scored with 1:17 left, beating Jason Muzzatti on a deflection, to rally Germany to a 3-3 tie and ruin Italy's hopes of an emotional victory.

"Ah, it was crushing," Muzzatti said. "We were on the way to winning, I thought we deserved to win."

Christian Borgatello thrilled the loud, flag-waving crowd by scoring a go-ahead goal with 1:32 left, but Goc answered 15 seconds later for the tie. Those teams remain at the bottom of Group A with two losses and a tie.

"It's like a roller coaster," said Tony Iob, who scored Italy's second goal. "You're high and then you come right down low."

Jere Lehtinen scored twice for the Finns with two for the Czech's Marek Zidlicky.

Czech Jaromir Jagr, the NHL's leading scorer, left the ice in the second period with blood pouring out of a cut on his forehead after being rammed into the boards by Finland's Jarkko Ruutu. Jagr was wobbly as he was assisted to the Czech locker room and didn't return.

The Czechs were given the best chance of taking gold from Canada. Now the two are struggling for quarterfinal spots.

Slovakia made it tougher for the US to reach the quarterfinals.

Marian Hossa gave Slovakia a 1-0 lead on a power play at 14:20 of the second, with Brian Rolston answering for the US four minutes later on its own power play. Peter Bondra, a teammate of Hossa on the Atlanta Thrashers, scored the even-strength winner at 1:48 of the third.

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