Russia downs Czechs in world junior quarter-finals
Advances to semifinal round against Sweden on strength of Seleznev's 2-point effort
A three-goal outburst in the second period propelled Russia to a 4-1 win over the host Czech Republic in quarter-final action Wednesday at the world junior hockey championship.
Yakov Seleznev led the way with a goal and an assist, while Viktor Tikhonov, Nikita Filatov and Anton Korolev rounded out the scoring for the Russians, who will play Sweden in Friday's semifinal (10 a.m. ET)
Canada, which doubled Finland 4-2 earlier Wednesday, takes on the United States in the other semi in Pardubice (2 p.m. ET).
It was another disappointing showing by the Czech Republic on home soil. It finished fifth in the 1994 world juniors, seventh in 2002 and will be held without a medal for a third consecutive year.
The Czechs and Finland will meet Thursday for fifth place.
The Russians, who haven't lost to the Czech Republic since the gold-medal game in 2000 in Skelleftea, Sweden, took control Wednesday after a scoreless opening period with three goals in eight minutes, 59 seconds.
Leading 1-0, Russia struck on the power play at 15:04 with Tikhonov outmuscling Daniel Bartek for a loose puck in front of the Czech Republic net and beating goaltender Michal Neuvirth.
Filatov made it 3-0 less than two minutes later when he converted an Artem Anisimov pass.
Radek Meidl put the Czech Republic on the board just 23 seconds later.
But it was too late for the Czechs, who made it tough on themselves by failing to convert a couple of two-man advantages early in the game and mustering just seven shots in the first two periods.
In the relegation round, Slovakia beat Switzerland 5-2 while Kazakhstan topped Denmark 6-3. The winners secured spots at the elite championship with six points at the relegation group and one more game to play.
Denmark and Switzerland are still without points and will be relegated and replaced by Germany and Latvia at next year's tourney in Ottawa.
The gold-medal game is Saturday at 2 p.m. ET in Pardubice and is preceded by the bronze-medal contest (10 a.m. ET).
With files from the Associated Press