BERN, Switzerland — Russia routed Latvia 6-1 on Sunday, sealing a spot for the United States in the world hockey quarterfinals.
With Russia already assured of top spot in the six-team Group E and No. 1 seeding in the quarterfinals, its latest victory resolved some issues among a logjam of four teams fighting for three places.
Sweden, Latvia and the United States all have seven points, with the Swedes earning a spot with a 4-1 victory over Switzerland.
Latvia’s loss to Russia in its final group match means it cannot edge the U.S. by virtue of the Americans’ 4-2 win when they met in a first-round match April 25.
Switzerland has four points and must beat the United States in regulation time Monday to earn the three points it needs to send the Latvians home.
There’s a kicker for the United States, too. Although it is certain to advance, a loss in regulation to the Swiss would almost certainly mean coach Ron Wilson’s side would face Canada in the quarterfinals.
“I think the team we lost against (Sunday) will be the world champions,” Latvia coach Olegs Znaroks said of the Russians.
Znaroks, who hid his face rather than watch his underdog team’s two shootout victories at this event, said he would be unable to bear the tension of watching the Switzerland-U.S. match on television.
Russia played the best hockey of the championship in beating the United States 4-1 on Saturday — overturning an early U.S. lead to score four times before 22 minutes had been played — and was ruthless again Sunday.
“The motivation was pretty difficult and I would like to congratulate my players,” Russian coach Slava Bykov said through a translator.
Defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky and forward Anton Kuryanov both scored twice and Ilya Kovalchuk had an assist for his team-leading 10th point.
Russia will play Belarus in the quarterfinals. Belarus got the No. 4 seed in Group F by losing 3-0 to the Czech Republic in Sunday’s late match in Zurich.
The Czechs, who got two goals from Petr Cajanek, will finish third behind Canada and Finland, who complete group play on Monday.
Canada needs only to avoid defeat to the Finns in regulation to seal a No. 1 seeding, after eliminating Norway with a 5-1 win Sunday.
Steve Stamkos scored his tournament-leading sixth goal, and Matt Lombardi, Dan Damhuis, Jason Spezza and Drew Doughty added the others.
Canada is the only country to earn maximum points. Russia has won five matches in regulation, but needed overtime to beat Sweden 6-5 on Thursday.
In relegation round play Sunday, Austria beat Germany 1-0 and Denmark defeated Hungary 5-1.
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