US, Czechs move into Cup of Hockey semis
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-09-09 06:44

Keith Tkachuk scored four goals and assisted on another to spark the United States past Russia 5-3 on Tuesday in a World Cup of Ice Hockey quarter-final match.

The Americans advanced to a semi-final on Friday against either the Czech Republic, who routed Sweden 6-1 on Tuesday at Stockholm in a quarter-final, or Finland, who edged Germany 2-1 on Monday.

Canada and Slovakia meet on Wednesday in Toronto to decide the semi-final pairings. A Canadian victory would put the reigning Olympic champions on home ice for a Saturday semi-final and possibly in next Tuesday's championship game.

The US squad dropped its Cup opener to Canada and struggled in a 3-1 loss to Russia last Thursday in round-robin play. But the Americans went ahead 1-0 after the first period and led 2-1 after two.

The Russians equalized early in the third period but New Jersey Devils centre Scott Gomez and St Louis star Tkachuk scored in a 22-second span to regain the United States' two-goal bulge.

Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers drew Russia within 4-3 on the power play midway through the third, but Tkachuk capped the scoring with an empty-net goal.

Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Robert Esche made 18 saves for the US team.

The tournament will end just minutes before the conclusion of the National Hockey League labour contract with players, with owners and players expecting a labour shutdown that could wipe out the entire season set to open in October.

At Stockholm, Colorado Avalanche right wing Milan Hejduk scored a pair of goals and Los Angeles Kings centre Martin Straka added a goal and an assist as the Czechs routed their hosts.

The disappointing Swedish loss follows a 2002 Winter Olympics ouster at the hands of Belarus, the first loss by an NHL club to a team predominantly without such high-priced talent.

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