Crosby rescues Canada with shootout goal

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Across Canada, there was a single response: Whew!

Sidney Crosby scored the only goal of a shootout in which an entire nation of nervous Canadians hung on every shot, giving Canada a 3-2 victory over Switzerland lastnight and avoiding a second inconceivable loss to the Swiss in as many Olympics.

Canada, a huge favorite despite a 2-0 upset loss to Switzerland in 2006 that ranks among the greatest in Olympic history, took a 2-0 lead early in the second and looked to be cruising. But the Swiss, with two NHL players - including the Islanders' Mark Streit - to Canada's 23, came back to tie it on second-period goals by Ivo Ruthemann and Patrick von Gunten.

After a scoreless third period and five-minute overtime, the first three shooters for each team in the shootout failed. Crosby put a wrist shot past Jonas Hiller with his second attempt, and the game ended when Canada goalie Martin Brodeur stopped Martin Pluss' shot.

Canada, helped by early goals from San Jose Sharks teammates Dany Heatley and Patrick Marleau, now faces a North American showdown Sunday with the United States that it must win to be assured of gaining the quarterfinals without needing an extra game in a newly added play-in round.

Hiller, the Anaheim Ducks' goalie, couldn't have played much better while making 45 saves, but the Swiss simply didn't have enough skilled shooters to stage an upset that perhaps would have been greater than their 2006 surprise.

None of their four shooters came close to scoring in the shootout. Brodeur, the best goalie of his generation, easily turned aside former NHL player Hnat Domenichelli, Romano Lemm, Roman Wick and Pluss.

Maybe Canada should have taken note of the date: Feb. 18, the same as when Martin Gerber made 49 saves in Turin while sending the Canadians to one of their worst defeats since the country invented hockey.