The loss to the US, was diluted further when the Americans lost to Slovakia 4-2, leaving Canada in second place in their pool trailing Finland who have yet to lose.
The next step for Team Canada is today's match up with Switzerland currently ranked at number 8 at the World Championships and featuring mainly Swiss league played with a smattering of those that play in the NHL such as Mark Streit and Nino Niederreiter of the Islanders.
By virtue of a Finnish victory over Switzerland in the tournament, the game today isn't quite as important as it might have been, a Finn/Canadian showdown for first place is still on the agenda later this week, still taking the Swiss lightly or looking ahead is not on Brent Sutter's mind, who instead is reminding his players over the troubles the Swiss provided Canada in pre tournament games.
Switzerland will be facing off against Canada after a 5-2 thumping at the hands of Finland, a little extra incentive to ratchet up the effort level against the Canadians we imagine.
For the Swiss game, Sutter won't be able to tap Alexandre Burrows on the shoulder for a shift or two, while making progress, Burrows reportedly won't be in the line up for the game against the Swiss, his anticipated return date is by the end of the week, which would make the showdown in the pool with Finland as the day of Burrow's return.
So, for one more day, the small crowds assembled at the tournament thus far will be able to listen to Burrows recall his days of ball hockey and the glory and attention that provided, though we imagine the fascination with ball hockey probably was more along the lines of cost effectiveness, somehow we don't think the Ball Hockey championships came with the same ticket charge as these World Championships.
Still, it must be disconcerting for the players to play in front of less than full houses, with Phoenix still in the NHL playoffs, there's no on other than John Tavares and Jamie Benn the perhaps can relate to empty arenas.
Canada is apparently the ninth best draw at this tournament so far, a startling number considering the considerable amount of NHL talent that the Canadians have brought to the Scandinavia so far, perhaps a few more wins will alert the locals that there is a pretty good hockey team in town tonight.
May 9-- Team Canada 3 vs Switzerland 2
Canada has 3 wins, 1 OT loss in tournament so far
Previews and Reviews
POST GAME
IIHF Recap -- Captain and Kid line lead Canada
Globe and Mail-- Getzlaf scores winner as Canada beats Switzerland at hockey worlds
National Post-- Ryan Getzlaf comes through for Canada at hockey worlds
CBC-- Canada edges Switzerland at hockey worlds
Edmonton Sun-- Getzlaf has last laugh against Swiss
PRE GAME
IIHF Features page
Edmonton Sun-- Swiss no easy matchup
Edmonton Sun-- Out of T. O. spotlight, Phaneuf cracks a smile
Edmonton Sun-- Ball hockey a bigger draw than worlds
Globe and Mail-- Burrows set to return to Team Canada lineup
Globe and Mail-- IIHF gets serious about head shots
Globe and Mail-- Kris Russell joins Team Canada
Globe and Mail-- Team Canada ventures deep underground to practice
TSN-- Burrows approaching return to lineup at World Championship
TSN-- Keith hungry to lead Canada to World Championship Gold
Previous Team Canada items in tournament
May 7-- Canada vs France
May 5-- Canada vs USA
May 4 -- Canada vs Slovakia
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