There will be few secrets between Switzerland and Canada as they play for a spot in the finals - the teams were amongst the first to take the ice in the women’s tournament, with the Canadians whipping up on the competition 5-0, while outshooting the Swiss 69-14. It was a balanced, dominant attack that spread the wealth - five different players scored for Canada, who got off to a scorching start, limiting Switzerland to four first period shots to their 29.  The Swiss then lost to Finland 4-3 before a forgiving format allowed them an opportunity - a game vs Russia on their home ice for a spot in the semifinals. Stefanie Marty scored midway through the first period and Florence Schelling stopped 41 shots on Saturday to give Switzerland a 2-0 victory over Russia. Afterwards, disappointed Russia forward Yekaterina Pashkevich gave us this gem:  You don’t win games with zero goals.  She ain’t just whistlin’ dixie, and if you can’t beat a team that has gotten kicked around like Switzerland, on your own home ice nonetheless, then you probably don’t deserve to be playing for a medal. So, what’s left, but an opportunity for the Swiss to exact some sort of revenge for the opening round thrashing they took, and use the platform to show some pride in representing their nation.  Problem is, the Swiss are running into one of those buzzsaws they talk about in Canada, who that overcame doubts in the third period against their Team USA rivals, one that are heads and shoulders above anything Switzerland have to offer. That could mean it gets nasty in Sochi, and, well, this is all so much more fun for everyone involved if there’s some element of competition, no?  And so, in name of entertaining Olympic sport, I command Switzerland to rise up and bring us competitive hockey! Fear not Rebecca Johnston, Marie-Philip Poulin - turn away Hayley Wickenheiser, blow past Charline Labonté, please, with sugar on top.  The puck drops at 1200PM on the North American east coast, but not in Newfoundland where it falls at 100PM AST, which means it all goes down in the UK at 500PM. Standby.
Rolling report: Canada will face Team USA on Thursday in the gold medal game of the women’s hockey tournament in Sochi after defeating Switzerland 3-1 in the semifinals