Team USA Take Down Switzerland 3-1

Team USA opened up Pool play yesterday with a 3-1 victory over Switzerland. Team USA effectively ran the first two periods and the Swiss really opened up their game and took it to the Americans in the third. The goal tending of Ryan Miller and lack of Swiss finishing ability kept the Swiss down.

With the games being on the smaller NHL sized rink, the US used their size and physical play level to really attack the Swiss. IN the first meeting of David Backes and Julien Sprunger, no one was injured and there didn’t seem to be any bad blood showing. Although, Backes was popped in the nose at some point in the first period and had a nice wad of cotton up his left nostril the whole game.

The Ryan-Backes-Callahan line really seemed to set the tone for the US. Their physical play was through the roof and they created at least five scoring chances. Ryan and Backes converted once each to put the US up 2-0. Ryan Malone would bang in the third goal on the power play through Jonas Hiller’s legs.

The Blues Erik Johnson was solid to start, but seemed to struggle a little as the game went on. His early play was very good in terms of picking when to jmp in to the offensive play deep in the zone. Ryan Suter was playing well till the bad roughing penalty that lead to Roman Wick’s lone Swiss goal. Suter has a pretty good shot from the point. Blues fans don’t see it that much since Shea Weber hogs the Nashville spotlight.

Team USA is off today the 17th and will play Norway at 3pm Easten on Thursday the 18th.

Here is a link to an article from the USHL on Backes and Malone.