Team USA Advances to Semifinals

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Semifinals for men's hockey at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver begin on Friday. Team USA has earned a spot in the final four following Wednesday afternoon's 2-0 win over Switzerland. The Americans will face either Finland or the Czech Republic (featuring Blues' defenseman Roman Polak) in the next round.

U-S forward Zach Parise scored both goals after being held to three assists in his first three games of the tournament. American netminder Ryan Miller had a much easier time against the Swiss than he had against Canada on Sunday. Miller only had to turn aside 14 shots to the nearly 40 Jonas Hiller faced at the other end. Miller had to stop 42-of-45 offerings from the Canadians.

Another team U-S-A forward Ryan Kessler, who netted the lunging empty netter to help beat Canada, nearly scored at the end of the second period when his shot from the corner was stopped by Hiller's stick before rolling off of the goalie's shoulder and into the net. Instant replay confirmed that the puck was on the line at 0.0 but not completely across it, thus it didn't count. Kessler later took a penalty in front of the Swiss net that negated a would-be Ryan Suter goal.

The two Blues representatives on Team USA's roster played extremely well in their quarterfinal. Eric Johnson displayed his shot-blocking ability in addition to breaking up a Swiss three-on-one with a diving, sweeping poke-check to help preserve Miller's shutout. Johnson also helped the Americans kill penalties while David Backes continued to add grit and skill to a line that typically includes Chris Drury and Bobby Ryan with occasional contributions from Ryan Callahan.

One of the 14 shots Miller faced hit him square in the mask before deflecting up and out of play behind the goal and glass...makes you wonder how netminders like the great Jacques Plante and Terry Sawchuck ever survived without one.

TPC