Written by Joe Tetreault | 23 February 2010

They met in the tourney opener.  They'll open the quarterfinals, but from one team it will be the final act.

Last week, Switzerland found themselves on the short end of a 3-1 decision, unable to solve the riddle of Ryan Miller and overwhelmed by an aggressive American attack.  They get a second crack at team USA as the quarterfinals begin in Vancouver at noon local time, three eastern.

That rematch was far from preordained.  The Swiss had to beat Belarus to get a second shot at the now high flying Americans.  After the jump, we'll recap the Switzerland's victory and look ahead to their game tomorrow.

Seventy Minutes of Hockey, All Square

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No one feels more alone than the opposing forces in a hockey shootout.  The skater has only himself to rely on.  No drop passes.  No flip to a streaking wing.  No chance at a rebound.

The goalie is the only defense.  He'l have a split second to react to the shooter's movements.  A wrong guess and he's beaten, and possibly his team with him.

Jonas Hiller watched Sergei Kostitsyn streak toward him.  The Canadiens forward was Belarus' best hope.  He was their final hope, as Hiller stopped him, clinching the shootout. and sending Switzerland on to the round of eight, where they'll face top seeded Team USA.

Switzerland is a method team.  They have a standard set system for games that they rely on.  When playing Canada, Norway and Belarus they have been able to stick with that system.  It's almost jujitsu on ice.  They deny passing lanes, force mistakes and then use their opponents momentum to get them out of position and vulnerable for counterattack.

Backstopping that effort is Hiller, whose goalkeeping kept Switzerland right with Canada shot for shot in the preliminary round and stifled Belarus today.

Hiller didn't see many shots, especially compared to the onslaught that the Swiss unleashed on Belarus' Andrei Mezin.  Switzerland's attack peppered him to the tune of 43 shots.  Stopping forty one is good most nights, but not with Hiller on the other end of the ice.

Despite an opening goal in the first minute of play from Belrus' Alexei Kaliuzhny, Switzerland dominated the first thirty minutes of play.  Power play goals by Julien Sprunger, twelve and a half minutes into the first, and Hnat Domenichelli, right after the seven minute mark int he second put the Swiss ahead.

A holding call on Mathias Seger with just over five minutes left in the second, provided Belarus with a power play chance that Konstantin Zakharov took advantage of knotting the game.  And there it stayed until the shootout.

Familiar, Yet Different

The Swiss are hardened, having endured a shootout loss to Canada, then a regulation win over Norway and a shootout victory over Belarus.  But for their familiarity with America, team USA has a different look and feel from that opening game.

Team USA had by far its sloppiest game in the opener.  With a skate around behind them and not even enough time to set the lines and defensive pairings, they were able to get Switzerland out of their game plan and push the tempo of the game to their favor.

Relying on Ryan Miller to cover for their mistakes, the Americans took an early lead, forced Switzerland to adapt and play out of their comfort zone and cruised to the win.

But now the Americans have set lines, defensive pairings that complement each other and were able to effectively contain Canada's potent attack.  For the US, a key to victory is an early lead and forcing Switzerland to again react to their fast pace of play.

The Swiss need to neutralize the Americans forwards, and prevent them from effectively moving the puck.  Challenging the US defensemen when they have the puck is something they failed to do in the opener.

For all the execution either side can muster, the game could be sung by the two netminders.  Hiller after a long game will need to bounce back fresh for the Swiss.  Miller on the other hand has had two days away from game conditions.  Long enough to freshen his legs, but not long enough for rust to form.

The US has the advantage, but Switzerland is a game opponent, capable of upsetting the US.  Puck drops at noon in Vancouver.  Three eastern time.