Swiss earn shot against USA with win over Belarus

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Don't be fooled by Switzerland's struggle against Belarus. The Swiss are ready for another shot at the top-ranked Americans.

Switzerland had a tighter than expected game Tuesday, a 3-2 shootout victory that sent the country into the men's Olympic hockey quarterfinals.

Goalie Jonas Hiller of the Anaheim Ducks stopped Sergei Kostitsyn in the third round of the shootout for Switzerland.

Hiller made the winning save after the puck slid off the stick of the Montreal Canadiens forward. Hiller allowed only one goal after letting a bad one go through in the opening minute.

"I tried to stay on my feet as long as possible," Hiller said, referring to the final shot. "I thought he was going to deke me. I was able to close the corner down, and he ran out of time, ran out of space. It was a great feeling - sure better feeling at the end of the game than how I started it."

Thomas Deruns and Romano Lemm scored shootout goals for Switzerland, which will take on the Americans Wednesday. The United States beat the Swiss, 3-1, in the Olympic opener a week earlier.

"We're coming at an all-NHL team for the third time. We feel comfortable," Swiss coach Ralph Krueger said of the game against the United States. "We were definitely too timid in the first half of that game. We gave them too much space. It's more about being less timid and getting into their faces. I see them as the most physical-playing team in the tournament. We need to bring an absolutely perfect team game to even have a chance."

Julien Sprunger and former NHL forward Hnat Domenichelli scored power-play goals for Switzerland. On Domenichelli's goal, Islanders defenseman Mark Streit's shot hit traffic in front, and the puck caromed to Domenichelli. His first drive was stopped but he quickly popped in the rebound.