Relegation-bound? Switzerland hands U.S. second straight loss at Worlds
Yesterday, it was a 5-2 loss to Denmark, that noted international hockey power playing in it's first World Championship since 1949. Today it was a 1-0 loss to Switzerland, another team that the US should have had no trouble with.
"It was a big day for the Swiss program with the pressure on this team," coach Ralph Krueger said. "We got it done today on an effort that began with the goaltender all the way through the very young defense and the forwards working and protecting so hard."
Switzerland's Marco Buhrer made 27 saves for the shutout. he made a big pad save on a backhander from the slot by John Pohl of the AHL's Worcester Icecats halfway through the last period. Four minutes later, he got lucky when a shot hit the crossbar.
Pressure? What pressure? No one has ever accused the Swiss of being a hockey powerhouse. Now the US faces the very real possibility of being relegated to competing against the likes of Japan, Norway, and Australia. My, how the mighty have fallen- or at least failed to show up....
