Switzerland coming off a huge win versus Czech Republic while Canada has been clipping along nicely withs comfy wins versus Italy and Germany.

The Swiss start goalie Gerber over Aebisher but no let down in play early as Gerber (wearing his NHL Carolina Hurricanes mask) is playing out of his mind.

Broduer looks a bit tired and unsteady and is coming out of his net a little *too* much for my liking but doing his soft goalie hands routine with some long lead passes and even getting passes back from the D (which isn’t my favorite play).

Bertuzzi had an apparent goal disallowed when the play had been whistled down since he was in the crease.  Sakic, Iginla and Bert are playing OK but not as dominant as recent games and overthinking the plays a bit.  Bert’s positional play and passing looks very good and he buried one guy into the boards.

In general, Canada is getting most of their chances right in front of the goal but the Swiss are collapsing down low and gobbling up loose pucks – especially on their 6 unsuccessful power plays.

St. Louis and Nash are stepping up their play.  Smyth, Doan, and Draper need to demonstrate why they are on this team with some inspiried energic play  – this is tough with a penatly filled period including a 5-3 which resulted in the second Dipietro goal for the Swiss.  Lecavalier isn’t real assertive and looks a bit out of sync however Richards impresses me with his excellent passing and vision.

Nash was robbed by Gerber (and the replay judges to some degree).  He ripped a shot from right side and Gerber (the guy has ESP today) came across and grabbed the puck out of the air.  The momentum of the puck carried his glove into the net but the replay was inconclusive – circumstantial evidence only since you couldn’t clearly see thepuck over the line.  Bummer, but Canada shouldn’t be dependant on shaky goals and should be up by a couple by now but Gerber is playing awesome and Canada is not making sharp decisions.  The Swiss are hustling and supporting each other while the Canadians have been getting out of position when they try to land big hits.

In the third period, … Canada needs to step back to the hash marks to shoot and bring the game away from the boards and into the middle and going to have to possess the puck for the third period or else they will go down in flames.

Are we seeing history?  Swiss has never beat Canada in Olympics and this Games hasn’t been short on upsets.  The Swiss are led by Mark Streit and Dipietro – two players with Montreal Canadiens ties.  Great play and sporting spirit by the mostly Swiss (and Swedish) Elite league players.

The third period sees Canada pummel the net but to no avail – another almost goal when Joe Thorton curled it right onto the goal-line thorugh Gerber pads and his d-man tucked it back into the his equipment.

The 3rd period is another penalty fest with calls (some rather weak) going both ways including Vinny taking 2 + a 10 minute misconduct for boarding and complained on his way to the box.  He might sit next game if we have another player eligible to play.

More hectic play by the Canadians down the stretch but the team play of the Swiss and the insane goaltending of Gerber carried the day.

Just when Switzerland thought they had had the biggest day of their hockey history after beating the Czechs, they come back with another goalie and beat a tired and disappointed Canadian squad.  Crazy times – all bets are off!

Another Canadian ex-pat Dipietro, along with Gerber of course (about 45 saves i think) was the star.  Really a good game which makes the loss sting a little less.  Canada should be proud too of Canucks-abroad working as coaches and GMs and building the sport world-wide.  The Swiss love hockey and, after seeing the young Swiss squad play fast, inspired hockey versus Canada at the World Juniors, things look bright for Switzerland now and in the future.

One more note:  Has there ever been more pounds out on the ice for a team in the history of hockey than when Canada iced Nash, Bertuzzi, Thornton, Pronger and Blake?  That is a lot of hockeyplayer.

Greetings this Sunday Morning!

Just a couple of observations from last night’s and this mornings events from coverage I’ve managed to catch – augmented by a few notes by Dan Funboy.

Besides Jennifer Heil’s awesome performance and Women’s Hockey rolling over Italy (as I type they are leading Russia 10-0), i enjoyed an inspired performance by Italian long-strack speed skater (insert name here), who absolutely looked like he was being pushed by the Italian crowd.  Great to see the homer country get on the medal board early too.

More about Speed skating, that hotshot American kid is fast and determined, watch his technique, a double push but they’ll likely talk about this on TV-coverage.  CBC has Catroina LeMay Doan doing color commentary and she was quite good (though she looks rather soccer-mom-ish now – cause well, … she probably is) but she called on Canada to support more and help the athletes to “own the podium” (the Canadian mantra).

_{Catriona Lemay and husband, Doan at Soldier Hollow Cross Country venue, Winter Olympics 2002 – photo Dave Olson}

Of course, in egalitarian and thrifty Canada, most folks want the money spread around so each athlete can get a piece of the pie but, later as the Federal Sport Minister pointed out, they is better return on investment (judged by medals won) but entirely supporting elite athletes with best chance of medaling.

Digression … CBC has some versatile announcers to be sure, and I love a Saturday without Bob Cole and Harry Neale (retire for Pete’s sake), Ron Maclean is a national treasure, Steve Armitage is pretty good at everything but not great at any one, Brian Williams is Canada’s excessively perky Regis.

Claudia Pechstein and Daniela Anschuetz Thoms just skated the 3000m.  Claudia won in 2002 and Canada’s Cindy Klasussen holds the record and skates.  Not Claudia’s best race, a NED 19 year old sits in first.

_{Claudia Pechstein, basking in Gold Medal joy and sitting in on drums with Acoustica at the Thuringen House, SLC 2002}

_{Firecracker Danilea Anschutz of the German long-track speed skating team partying down at the Thuringen House, SLC 2002}

Continuing update … Cindy is underway and flying so far, hope she keeps the pace, still under the time, drafting off her pairing (NED Groenewold) down the stretch, smart … still belowthe target after 2 laps – still looking relaxed and solid, 4 laps now and she is bonking, and slipped and Groenewold wins the heat as Klaussen lost it, tightening up on the last lap. Sits in third but still 4 skaters to go including Canada’s Christina Groves and Clara Hughes.

Freisinger skates now with Groves and neither skaters finished top 3.  Clara set to start vs. Sablikova of CZE.  False start and then away clean.  The races have been fast and racers bonking at end so Clara must skate her pace.

Well no go for Sarah but Cindy finishes in Bronze position (same finish as SLC 2002) while the young Nederlander scores Gold.  Both Germans were shut out.

BTW, i really don’t like hearing about athlete’s “faiths” on air, i think that is a personal issue and the fact that she is a Mennonite doesn’t add to the athletic coverage.

Back to Women’s hockey vs Russia 11-0 now halfway through the 3rd.  In training, the women played 22 games vs. Alberta men’s midget teams (not *really* wee folks, just young men) and finished 10-10-2 and increased their physical game with more rough and tumble play.

It is amazing to see the veterans players for Canada against the Italian women last night (replayed from yesterday).  The Italians were tiny and young and looked dazzled by the burly and experienced Canadians to say the least.  Major props to the Italians who battled through to the end.  Heck, I wouldn’t want to have Goyette or Wickenheiser bearing down on me (yikes!).

Vicky Sunohara and Cherry Piper are my favorites.  Sunohara was awesome, gritty, smart player at Nagano and is Piper is wee but a battler and has great hands around the net.

_{Cherry Piper with newly won Gold Medal at the M’s Gold Medal Curling match at SLC 2002}

12-0 now vs Russia, kinda a joke and an awkward situation for Canada to not let up and if they do, the gain lazy habits in front of net and on backcheck etc.

While Canada continues to roll, a note on downhill skiiing which demostrates the unpredictibility of sport with the hotshot Americans finishing out of medals with a darkhorse Frechman taking gold and Austria and Switzerland taking Silver and Bronze.  Manuel Osborn-Paradis wa the top Canucks finishing in 13th place Canucks while teammate Francois Bourque came in 16th with a strong finish.  The last Canadian also placed top 30, John Kucera came in in 27th place 2.75 sec off the winning time – just wait for 2010.

Cross-country skiier Beckie Scott finished in, what is likely a disappointing 6th, but in a 2002 Bronze finish, she managed to move up 2 places with positive doping test so maybe she’ll manage to gain a few places again.

Digression … is that Personal Digital Recorders (i.e. Tivo, Replay etc.) are excellent for the Olympics – why is Canada slow to adopt this tech just now available (as mentioned in the ubligoutous commericals)?  I have a Replay TV but no way to subscribe in Canada and I am trying to set it up just to pause and record what i am watching at the moment.

Next up on CBC, Short Track Speed skating and Jeff Christie Luging.

Go Canada!