TAMPERE, Finland (AP) — The United States shut out Denmark 3-0 on Saturday to stay perfect at the ice hockey world championship.
Alex Tuch scored one goal and added two assists for the United States to earn its fifth victory from five games.
Cutter Gauthier broke the deadlock midway through the final period on a power play before Tuch doubled the advantage and Rocco Grimaldi finished it off with an empty net goal.
Goaltender Casey DeSmith stopped 22 shots for the shutout.
The Americans lead Group A with 15 points and have secured a spot in the quarterfinals. Switzerland leads Group B with five wins from five after beating Canada 3-2. The top four teams from the two eight-team groups advance to the knockout stage.
In the Latvian capital of Riga, the Czech Republic beat Norway 2-0 to go top of Group B and earn a spot in the last eight.
Dominik Kubalik scored the opening goal with a slap shot on a power play for the Czechs to lead the scoring table at the tournament with seven goals.
In Tampere, defending champion Finland defeated Austria 3-1 for the third straight victory and Sweden scored all of its goals in the opening period in shutting out France 4-0.
Sweden is second in Group A, a point behind the U.S., and Finland is another point back. They have qualified for the next stage.
In Riga, co-host Latvia demolished Kazakhstan 7-0 in Group B to stay in contention for a quarterfinal spot.
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