Islanders Bits: Nino Niederreiter beats the U.S., goes for gold

In the semifinal at the IIHF World Championship, Nino Niederreiter scored the only goal the Swiss needed in a 3-0 defeat of the U.S., meaning Switzerland will win a medal at the World Championship for the first time in 60 years.

Niederreiter also assisted on the empty net goal that made it 3-0.

The gold medal game is Sunday against Sweden, who defeated Finland in the other semifinal. The Finns will play the U.S. for bronze.

Elsewhere:

• If you missed the season-wrapping Islanders chat with Arthur Staple of Newsday, a replay is viewable here. (Actually, it's viewable even if you didn't miss it.) He believes the Isles would prefer to have both Kevin Poulin and Anders Nilsson start next season in Bridgeport. He thinks Mark Streit has priced himself off the Island.
  
• Andrey Pedan, who graduated to an entry level contract and an ATO with Bridgeport at the end of the season, was unsurprisingly named Guelph's defenseman of the year.
• Raving about Doc Emrick is Joe Posnanski. Agree? Also a fan of the man they call Doc is Awful Announcing. Not quite as convinced to dispense such compliments is yours truly. Leaving the subject at the end of many play-by-play sentences is that man right there.
  
• Wade Redden isn't bitter. [ESPN]
• Quisp takes apart Doug Wilson's defense of Raffi Torres.
• Not hockey related, but this is just a good read about basketball in Slovakia.
• The Memorial Cup is underway. Here are some themes from Buzzing the Net.
  

This "Sounds of Round 1" video is pretty great, and includes some chatter from Travis Hamonic. Needs more Coliseum though: