Ice hockey-Slovakia win group, US beat Denmark, Finland, Latvia notch wins

MILAN, Feb 14 : Slovakia lost the battle but won the war against Sweden on Saturday, as they clawed their way to the top of Group B on goal differential despite losing to the Nordic powerhouse 5-3, earning a bye into the men's ice hockey quarter-finals.

In other group action, the United States recovered from a slow start to double up Denmark 6-3, Finland walloped Italy 11-0 and Latvia fought back to edge Germany 4-3 on the fourth day of the tournament.

Slovakia, Sweden and Finland each had two wins and a loss when the dust settled on the tournament's most competitive group of the preliminary stage, but Slovakia scored in the final minute to ensure they could bypass Tuesday's qualification round.

The winners of each of the three preliminary groups and the next best overall team automatically advance to the quarter-finals in Milan, while the remaining teams compete in a single-elimination qualification play-off.

Hosts Italy will go into the single-elimination play-offs after going winless through the group stage, while Groups A and C will conclude on Sunday.

SLOVAKIA VICTORIOUS IN DEFEAT

Elias Pettersson scored twice while forwards Joel Eriksson Ek, Adrian Kempe and Lucas Raymond each added goals for Sweden, the pre-tournament favourites to challenge Canada and the United States for the top of the podium.

Eriksson Ek nudged the puck over the line for a short-handed goal in the eighth minute at Santagiulia Arena but Slovakian star forward Juraj Slafkovsky levelled it less than two minutes later with a slapshot from the right wing.

Kempe scored four seconds into a power play midway through the second, putting the puck under the Slovakian goalie's glove, but defenceman Martin Gernat answered less than three minutes later, sending the