Team USA Vs a Hot Goalie Finally Come on Through!

Shots on goal read 18-4 after a period of play, 32-8 after two periods of play in favor of the United States but the score board would still read 0-0. Enter the out standing Mighty Ducks Switzerland goaltender Jonas Hillar.

Usually when an underdog team hangs around with you two long the unthinkable happens. A devastating loss, and in this case a long ride home across the boarder as the US headed into the elimination round with a 3-0 record and the top seed in the tourney.

But 2:08 into period three Zach Parise would relieve a frustrated US squad on the power play when he would deflect a Brian Rafalski slap shot from the point and breath a sigh of relief into his pressuring counter parts. After 33 shots on goal number 34 would find it's way home and make for 1-0 USA lead.

Then the goalie on the other side of the rink wearing red white and blue would have to make his presence know to hold down a lead. After only seeing eight shots though two periods of play, Switzerland would throw eleven shots at him in the final session looking for the equalizer. A few of those eleven were good quality scoring chances with time winding down at the end of the game as Miller would turn them aside in another nerve wrecking ending.

Parise would ruin any chance of this game going past regulation when he would sail an empty net goal home for his second of the night but more important a US win and march his fellow Americans into the final four.

Parise was the best forward for the United States scoring both the teams goals and making his presences know on all parts of the ice. Doing the scrappy work, which he is know for he finishes off his hit's, fore checking and back checking the man is the most complete forward on the squad as he can finish too.

Ryan Miller's 19 saves and no goals allowed were good enough for the first USA shut out since Mike Richter did it in the 2002 games against Germany.

The US are now four wins and zero losses in the tournament as they move into the medal round. They will have at least a shot a bronze being one of the final four teams. Did I just say bronze? Two more wins and they can say GOLD!

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