Sochi Olympics: Ducks’ Jonas Hiller records another shutout for Swiss

SOCHI, Russia -- Goaltender Jonas Hiller is making the most of the meager offensive support he has gotten from his Swiss teammates.

Hiller on Saturday recorded his second shutout of the Sochi Olympic tournament, stopping 26 shots in a 1-0 victory over the Czech Republic at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. Hiller, one of seven Ducks playing for their respective Olympic teams here, had stopped 21 shots in a 1-0 victory over Latvia in Switzerland’s first game. He was the backup to Reto Berra in Switzerland’s 1-0 loss to Sweden in its second game.

Switzerland must put defense first in order to succeed, but to go further it must improve on its early production of three goals in two games. Still, Hiller isn’t complaining.

“As long as you’re winning everybody is having fun,” he said. “I don’t think you purposely score just one goal. I think we have really good forwards we have talent up front.”

Although his margin of error was small — Simon Bodenmann’s goal at 14:10 of the first period was all Switzerland could muster — Hiller had a big smile on his face during the waning seconds Saturday.

“I’d rather have a 5-0 game or something,” he said. “Sometimes you’re just feeling it, like things go your way and you’re just excited about being out there, having chances to win against a really good team and helping your team to win three points.

“If things go well it’s easier to smile there. If things don’t go well you still have to try to have fun out there because that’s why you play hockey.”

Hiller said he has kept an eye on his Ducks teammates and is happy they’re thriving here.

“It seems like things are working real well for the Ducks players,” he said, “and I hope I can face a couple of them in the quarterfinals.”

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