U.S. beats Swiss; likely showdown with Canada looming

• Canadians celebrate goal

As fans, background, react, Canada's Curtis Hamilton, center, is congratulated by teammates Simon Despres, left, and Brayden Schenn after scoring the fourth goal against Sweden during second-period action at a World Junior Hockey Championship game Friday, Dec. 31, 2010, in Buffalo N.Y. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

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BUFFALO, N.Y. — Team USA took care of business in preliminary-round play.

Now, the Americans are on a crash course with rival Canada for a possible semifinal matchup on Monday.

Because of Friday’s results — Team USA’s 2-1 win over Switzerland and Team Canada’s 6-5 loss to Sweden — the teams will be in the same bracket when medal-round play begins Sunday.

The Canadians, who have won gold in five of the last six years, will play Switzerland at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. The winner will have a showdown with the Americans at 6:30 p.m. Monday.

The Americans finished pool play with a perfect 4-0 mark with wins over Finland, Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland.

The Swiss were pesky as goalie Benjamin Conz, who starred in the tournament a year ago, stopped 40 of 42 American shots.

A first-period tally by Boston College forward Chris Kreider and a second-period tally by Western Hockey League player Mitch Callahan dented Conz.

UND forward Brock Nelson assisted on Callahan’s second-period goal — the eventual game-winner. It was Nelson’s first point of the tournament.

Inti Pestoni scored the lone goal for the Swiss. It put Switzerland up 1-0 early in the first period. But that’s all the offense Switzerland could muster against U.S. goalie Jack Campbell, who stopped 25 shots.

The Americans played without injured forwards Jason Zucker and Jeremy Morin, both of whom were on last year’s gold medal team. They are listed as day-to-day.

Sweden 6, Canada 5, SO: Sweden earned a bye to the semifinals by knocking off Canada in a shootout.

Oscar Lindberg and Anton Lander both scored shootout goals for the Swedes.

Brayden Schenn continued his outstanding tournament for Team Canada with a goal and an assist. Scenn leads the tournament with 12 points — four more than teammate Ryan Ellis.

No team ever had more than a one-goal lead in the game. Canada led 1-0, 3-2 and 5-4. Sweden led 2-1 and 4-3.

World Junior Championship

In Buffalo, N.Y., Friday

Preliminary round

Sweden 6, Canada 5, SO

Finland 6, Slovakia 0

Russia 8, Czech Republic 3

USA 2, SWITZERLAND 1

First period — 1. SUI, Inti Pestoni (Gregory Hofmann, Dario Trutmann) 7:01; 2. USA, Chris Kreider (Charlie Coyle, Justin Faulk) 10:15 (pp)

Second period — 2. USA, Mitch Callahan (Jerry D’Amigo, Brock Nelson) 13:53

Goalie saves — USA: Jack Campbell 9-7-9 — 25; SUI: Benjamin Conz 18-14-8 — 40

Championship round

Sunday’s quarterfinals

Canada vs. Switzerland, 2:30 p.m.

Finland vs. Russia, 6:30 p.m.

Monday’s semifinals

Sweden vs. Finland-Russia winner, 2:30 p.m.

U.S. vs. Canada-Switzerland winner, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday’s medal games

Bronze medal

Semifinal losers, 2:30 p.m.

Gold medal

Semifinal winners, 6:30 p.m.

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