Czechs, Swedes tumble in ice hockey, U.S. wins

Reigning champions the Czech Republic and previously unbeaten Sweden were sent packing from the Olympic men's ice hockey tournament on Wednesday, but the United States restored order with a sound beating of Germany.

Russia knocked out the Czechs 1-0 in a rematch of the 1998 final. The U.S. beat Germany 5-0 to set up a semifinal showdown with Russia on Friday, 22 years to the day after the "Miracle on Ice".

Meanwhile qualifier Belarus pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the sport's history, beating previously undefeated Sweden 4-3 to advance. Belarus faces the winner of the Canada-Finland quarterfinal to be played later on Wednesday.

"We stood on our heads...I really expected that Sweden would go to the gold medal game, or least the medal games," admitted Belarus goalie Andrei Mezin.

The Swedes had looked to be the strongest team in the tournament coming into the single-game knockout quarterfinals, behind the superb goaltending of Tommy Salo.

But the Edmonton Oilers netminder surrendered three bad goals, including the winner by Vladimir Kopat with just over two minutes remaining, sinking the Swedes' vaunted torpedo checking system dead in its tracks.

Kopat's slapshot from just inside centre ice glanced off Salo's facemask and trickled into the net.

SOMBRE SUNDIN

"This is a team we should beat every time we play them. It hasn't sunk in that we are out," offered a sombre Swedish captain Mats Sundin.

Sundin, Detroit Red Wings all-star Niklas Lidstrom and Mikael Nylander scored for Sweden. Oleg Romanov, Dmitry Dudik and Andrei Kovalev also found the back of the net for Belarus.

GOALTENDING DUEL

Russia's Nikolai Khabibulin won the duel of the All-Star goaltenders, avenging the final of four years ago when the Czechs beat the Russians by the same 1-0 score behind great goaltending of Dominik Hasek.

The Tampa Bay Lightning goalie, who turned down a chance to play for Russia in Nagano, was outstanding throughout the game, stopping 41 shots.

"He played a fantastic game today," Hasek said of his counterpart. "He was always in a right position to stop the puck and I think all the Russian players have to thank him for their victory."

Maxim Afinogenov beat Hasek with a quick wrist shot from the edge of the face-off circle at 4:48 of the second period to give the Russians all the scoring they needed.

MIRACLE ON ICE, PART II

After seeing Belarus upset Sweden the Americans were wary of falling into the same trap. They didn't, dominating from the opening faceoff and using a four-goal burst in the second period to blow the game open.

The win sets up a classic showdown against Russia, more than two decades after a bunch of unsung U.S. college students upset the Soviet Union in the semifinals on the road to gold.

"We didn't want what happened to Sweden to happen to us," said Dallas Stars centre Mike Modano.

Once again doing much of the damage were the duo of Brett Hull and John LeClair, the team's top two scorers, with a goal and an assist each. Philadelphia Flyers forward Jeremy Roenick, Chicago Blackhawk Tony Amonte and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios all scored as well.

After taking Monday's game against Belarus off, New York Rangers netminder Mike Richter returned to post the shutout stopping all 28 shots he faced.