Finland wins again but US slips up on Hockey World Championships Day 10

Finland retook top spot in Group B in the Hockey World Championships on Sunday with their sixth straight win, while team United States slipped up and was beaten by Germany.

The Finns have been locked at the top of their pool with Canada, with both teams winning all their matches in the tournament to date.

Finland faced Slovakia at St. Petersburg's Yubileiny on Sunday and made light work of their European rivals, winning 5-0.

After a goalless first 20 minutes, Finland moved into the ascendancy with a goal from Mikko Koivu and went on to score another four unanswered ones.

Potential number one pick in the 2016 NHL Draft Patrik Laine continued his fine tournament by netting his side’s fifth - a goal that takes him to the top of the scoring charts, joint with Russia’s Vadim Shipachyov on 10 strikes.

Finland faces Canada in a blockbuster clash in the final round of group stage fixtures on Tuesday.

Team US is skating on thin ice after going down to Germany unexpectedly, with the European nation prevailing 3-2.

The Germans took the lead twice in an even clash, before Korbinian Holzer netted a dramatic winner with less than a minute left on the clock.

The result means Marco Sturm’s men move a point above the US in Group B.

American coach John Hynes said his side must take the result in their stride.

“We’ve talked to the guys all tournament long about not being too high or too low after a win or a loss,” he said.

“We still feel we have a very competitive team. In this tournament, you are going to lose some games and we have the opportunity to respond. That’s our focus.”

In Russia’s Group A, leaders the Czech Republic suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Denmark, losing 2-1 after a penalty shot shootout.

The in-form Tomas Plekanec gave the Czechs the lead, but Morten Madsen scored in the third period to leave the team even after regulation time.

Nicklas Jensen was the hero for the modest Denmark side, as an upset was recorded that offers the Scandinavians hope of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

In the last game of the day, Sweden recorded a 3-2 win over Switzerland also after a penalty shot shootout.

The Swiss took the lead in the first period only to be pegged back in the second, with both teams scoring a goal apiece in the final 20 minutes.

Andre Burakovsky held his nerve to score decisively for the Swedes and move them into second place in the group.

Russia returns to the action on Monday against Norway and knows that a win in regular time will move them to the top of Group A, following the Czech Republic’s defeat.

Denmark and Kazakhstan will also compete.

In Group B, Canada will look to go equal on points with Finland again by overcoming France, while Germany faces Hungary.