Men's Hockey: Swiss shock Czech Republic
Swiss team bench

Swiss team bench

Associated Press

2/16/2006 9:38:22 AM

TORINO, Italy (AP) - David Aebischer made 20 of his 40 saves in a second-period barrage - including six against Jaromir Jagr - as Switzerland stunned the Czech Republic 3-2 in Olympic men's hockey action Thursday.

Aebischer, best known for following Patrick Roy as the Colorado Avalanche's top goalie, was brilliant while his team was short-handed for most of the final seven minutes of the middle period. Switzerland was ahead 2-1 when the parade to the penalty box began with 6:49 left.

The Swiss, who had only two NHL players in the lineup, were called for six of the final eight penalties in the period and were down two men for about two minutes. Aebischer got stronger with each save as flag-waving fans chanted his name.

He was swarmed by his teammates as time ran out.
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Jagr, who scored the first goal for the defending world champions to tie it at 2:55 of the second, had several other chances. After going without a shot in the first period, Jagr fired from all over. He was stopped by the very bottom of Aebischer's left pad on his right-circle drive. Set up there again during the power play, Jagr fired high out of play.



Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mark Streit, who has only one NHL goal this season, gave the Swiss a 3-2 lead during a power play at 6:42 of the third.

Tomas Vokoun made 16 saves in place of injured goalie Dominik Hasek, and Marek Zidlicky added the other Czech goal.

Thomas Ziegler gave Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the first period and Thierry Paterlini answered Jagr's goal in the second by getting to his feet after being knocked down to score a short-handed goal at 9:44.

Switzerland (1-1) earned only one Olympic win in 2002 against the Ukraine. The Czech Republic is also 1-1 in Group A.

Aebischer, 22-2-13 this season with Colorado, made 13 saves during the third period of Switzerland's 5-0 loss to Finland on Wednesday. He replaced Martin Gerber, who allowed all the goals on 24 shots.

-- Edited by Jonny G at 09:57, 2006-02-16