2010 Winter Olympics: Canada vs. Switzerland-How It Should Play Out

Canada cut through Norway like a hot knife through warm butter after a scoreless, feeling out first period, but they will have a little more of a challenge against the Swiss.

Switzerland gave the USA a good run for their money with a bottle up the neutral zone style of defensive hockey.

But they had a hard time generating offence and could only beat US goalie Ryan Miller once in the final frame.

Jonas Hiller, who should be between the pipes again for the Swiss, played a solid game against the speed-oriented team of talented NHL players on the US roster.

Martin Brodeur will backstop Canada in this one after Roberto Luongo started the first game, registering the shutout in the 8-0 win over Norway.

Brodeur is one of the most decorated goalies in history and has vast international experience, though most likely won’t be tested very often.

If Switzerland approaches this game with Canada in the same fashion, with a neutral zone trap while trying to generate offence off turnovers, they will end up with a similar result.

But what choice do they have when they are trying to stop a charging bull, which is what team Canada is pretty much made up of at the forward position.

It seems the Swiss are playing to not lose big and hopefully sneak into the qualification round, where they will try to pull off an upset.

The Swiss will be hard pressed, as most will, when having to battle for pucks in Canada’s zone, as the defensive corps along the aforementioned behemoth forwards are tenacious and physical.

Canada should play a dump and chase game and create turnovers deep in the Swiss zone by hitting and getting on their defense below the red line.

Jarome Iginla buried a hat trick, including the opening goal of the game, against Norway, and he seems to be quite comfortable playing alongside Sidney Crosby, who assisted on all three goals, and Rick Nash, who assisted on two.

This line will most likely be kept together versus the Swiss, as it was firing on all cylinders and generated numerous scoring chances besides the ones they capitalized on.

The line of Joe Thornton, Dany Heatley, and Patrick Marleau looked solid and contributed with two goals and will continue throughout the tournament to be solid at both ends of the ice.

Most of the game between Canada and Norway was played in Norway’s zone. Though the Swiss will be better defensively, they will still struggle to generate offence. Even if they get past the defense, they will have to contend with Brodeur.

Though the competition is a step up, Canada will win this game by a fair margin and should continue to grow as a unit as they march towards the highly anticipated game against the USA Sunday night.