Martin Gerber made save after save under relentless pressure from Canada.

Shocking Swiss can Canada
By Phil Coffey | NHL.com
Feb. 18, 2006

TORINO, Italy -- Switzerland is described with terms like "quaint", "picturesque", "peaceful" and "neutral".

Now add "giant-killers" to the list.

For the second time in three days, the Swiss pulled a major upset in the 2006 Winter Olympics hockey tournament, shutting out Team Canada, 2-0, at the Torino Esposizioni in what has to rank as the biggest win in the country's history, as well as one of the most startling outcomes in Canadian international history.

"Things didn't go our way," Heatley said. "We out-shot them, but they had great goaltending and they got a big power-play goal that we didn't."

On Thursday, the Swiss edged the Czech Republic, 3-2, thanks to the exceptional goaltending of Colorado Avalanche netminder David Aebischer. Sunday, Martin Gerber of the Carolina Hurricanes took over in net and was equally brilliant in besting New Jersey's Martin Brodeur, who surrendered two goals to former Montreal Canadien Paul DiPietro.

"He was great," Canadian forward Jarome Iginla said of Gerber. "Today, he made some very big saves. I have seen him play before and he is a big player."

"They did get great goaltending both nights," Canadian defenseman Chris Pronger agreed. "Aebischer the other night and Gerber tonight."

Like the Czechs, the Canadians were the dominant team, holding an eye-popping 49-18 edge in shots and plenty of time on the power play as the Swiss continued to dodge a huge bullet by taking penalty after penalty in the game.

But even long stretches of penalty killing couldn't hurt the Swiss on this most impressive of rolls.

The whole experience, including the ensuing media attention, has left the Swiss players a little bemused with this whole Olympic thing.

"When you see a team play together like we did, with four lines, that's how teams win," DiPietro said. "We have great goaltending and then anything can happen."

Where does this win ranks for the Swiss?

"Right above the game yesterday (Thursday)," said Swiss captain Mark Streit, a defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens. "We played a perfect game and we needed that."

No one gave the Swiss much of a chance after an awful 5-0 loss to the Finns to start the tournament. But since then, the Swiss have received brilliant goaltending and walked a tightrope killing penalties.

"In the first game we were really bad," Streit said of the team's reversal of fortunes killing penalties. "I think we gave up four goals that way. We're just staying tighter now. We're clearing the front of the net. We make sure the goalies see the shots."

While the loss was disappointing for the Canadians, it was hardly debilitating. Canada is now 2-1 in the preliminary round and would need to suffer a collapse of biblical proportions to not reach the medal round. For the Swiss, their unexpected 2-1 record has the happy result of almost assuring a berth in the single-elimination medal round.

Gerber stopped all 12 shots he faced in the first round and DiPietro's first goal came at 18:19 to give the large Swiss contingent in the stands plenty to cheer about.

Paul DiPietro handled the scoring for Switzerland, notching a goal in the first and second periods.

The Swiss gained the Canadian zone after Joe Thornton lost the puck in a neutral-zone collision. With the play moving behind the Canadian net, Patric Della Rossa gained control of the puck, saw DiPietro in the right circle and got him the puck. DiPietro did the rest, snapping the puck past Brodeur and Canada was trailing for the first time in the tournament.

"We know against Canada you have to be perfect in the first 20 minutes or they are going to take over the game and run you over," Gerber said. "To get a goal and get ahead was huge for us."

DiPietro struck again at 8:47 of the second, netting a power-play goal with the Swiss skating on a 5-on-3 advantage. Adam Foote had been boxed for roughing at 7:55 and Chris Pronger joined him at 8:37 following a cross-checking call. Defenseman Goran Bezina took a shot from the right point that Brodeur stopped, but the rebound caromed out and came to DiPietro, who wasted no time slamming the puck into the net, once again setting off a wild celebration.

"Their checking is good," Pronger said of the Swiss. "They keep the game simple. If they're running around out there, they'll ice the puck. They're aggressive, they play hard and they limit time and space. It's tough to gain speed and momentum."

A big turning point came at 15:07 of the second when Canada's Rick Nash appeared to have scored a power-play goal. With Nash and Todd Bertuzzi crowding the Swiss net, the puck came across to Nash, who stopped it and fired on goal in almost the same motion. Sliding across, Gerber somehow got his glove on the shot, but it appeared he caught the puck with his glove inside the net. Bertuzzi immediately lifted his stick to celebrate and Nash pointed to the glove to referee Viacheslav Bulanov. A video replay ensured, but there was no definitive angle that showed the puck in the net.

Luck was not with the Canadians on this day as another great opportunity failed to produce a goal. At 11:52 of the third, with Canada all over the Swiss end, Nash fed Thornton, who redirected the pass on goal. The puck slipped between Gerber's pads and was sitting squarely on the goal line, just waiting to be knocked in when the whistle sounded.

"It's obviously not what we wanted," Heatley said. "They have a good team that's tough to play against. Gerber played well."

"We expected it," Iginla said of the strong play from the Swiss. "We knew after the beat the Czech Republic. We knew it was a good club and not an easy team. "

For Canada, the most pressing part of their game would be the ability to finish on the power play, something Heatley said is a work in progress.

"It's something we're working on," Heatley said of the Canadian power play. "We're getting used to each other and how to move the puck."

Perhaps with a little more urgency after this defeat.