KIDWCKED
02-24-2010, 11:42 PM
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ESPN.com news services
Updated: February 24, 2010, 6:00 PM ET
Everything screamed upset in the United States' quarterfinal game against Switzerland on Wednesday until Zach Parise stepped up.
The New Jersey Devils forward scored a power-play goal to break a scoreless tie early in the third period and added an empty-net goal as the Americans sidestepped an upset with a 2-0 win.
It took over two full periods for the U.S. to solve Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller, who made 42 saves for Switzerland. His counterpart, Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, stopped all 19 shots he faced as the Americans ran their Olympic record to 4-0 and punched their ticket for the semifinals.
After beating Canada in preliminary play, the U.S. earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament. But Switzerland had pushed Canada to a shootout before losing earlier in the tournament. And Hiller has been hot of late.
The Americans next play the winner of Wednesday's Finland-Czech Republic game.
ESPN.com news services
Updated: February 24, 2010, 6:00 PM ET
Everything screamed upset in the United States' quarterfinal game against Switzerland on Wednesday until Zach Parise stepped up.
The New Jersey Devils forward scored a power-play goal to break a scoreless tie early in the third period and added an empty-net goal as the Americans sidestepped an upset with a 2-0 win.
It took over two full periods for the U.S. to solve Anaheim Ducks goaltender Jonas Hiller, who made 42 saves for Switzerland. His counterpart, Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres, stopped all 19 shots he faced as the Americans ran their Olympic record to 4-0 and punched their ticket for the semifinals.
After beating Canada in preliminary play, the U.S. earned a No. 1 seed in the tournament. But Switzerland had pushed Canada to a shootout before losing earlier in the tournament. And Hiller has been hot of late.
The Americans next play the winner of Wednesday's Finland-Czech Republic game.