Defending champion Russia beats Denmark 5-2 at hockey worlds

Author: Associated Press
Published:
MGN

PRAGUE (AP) – Defending champion Russia bounced back from a loss to the United States with a 5-2 victory over Denmark at the ice hockey world championship on Wednesday.

Also, Latvia ended a three-game losing streak by edging Switzerland 2-1.

Sergei Mozyakin scored two goals to help Russia to its third win in four games.

Artemi Panarin, Evgeni Dadonov and St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko also had a goal each as Russia joined the U.S. at the top of Group B in the eastern city of Ostrava with nine points. The Americans have played one game less.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin set up both Mozyakin’s goals for his first points at the tournament.

Morten Green pulled one back for Denmark at 2-0 in the second period and Thomas Spelling cut the Russian lead to 3-2 midway through the third.

Russia was far less dominant than expected and had to wait for late goals from Mozyakin and Tarasenko to control the game.

“We scored goals, but of course we didn’t quite play the kind of game we need at the world championship,” Panarin said. “We’ll have to keep working on it.”

Captain Kaspars Daugavins scored the winning goal for Latvia, 2:19 into overtime.

Matthias Bieber tied the game for Switzerland with 1:51 to go, after Latvia’s Andris Dzerins scored in the second period.

“Our guys played real hard,” Dzerins said. “They gave their all and that’s why we won. We got the one and hopefully we’ll get another one next time.”

Switzerland has eight points in Group A, the same as Sweden. Canada leads with nine points. Latvia has two.

In a matchup of two highest scoring teams of the tournament, Canada faces Sweden later Wednesday and Slovakia plays Norway.

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