Slovakia upsets U.S. in overtime at worlds

Nedeljkovic pulled after allowing four goals on 16 shots

Slovakia upset the United States 5-4 when Milos Kelemen scored with 1:04 left in overtime at the world hockey championship Monday.

It was the Americans’ second loss in three games.

Libor Hudacek, Simon Nemec and Patrik Koch also scored for the Slovaks and goaltender Samuel Hlavaj stopped 39 shots in Group B in Ostrava.

The U.S. rallied from a three-goal deficit in the final 12:06 of the third period to force overtime. Shane Pinto scored the second for the Americans between the pads of Hlavaj, Brady Tkachuk added an unassisted goal on a solo effort, and Luke Hughes scored with a snap shot with 3:22 left.

Kelemen, with his first goal, and Hudacek gave the Slovaks a 2-0 lead in the opening period.

Matt Boldy reduced the advantage to 2-1 on a rebound but Simon Nemec scored for Slovakia with a slap shot and Patrik Koch added a fourth goal. They prompted U.S. coach John Hynes to substitute goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic with Trey Augustine.

Nedeljkovic allowed four goals on 16 shots. Augustine made eight saves.

The U.S. lost to

Sweden 5-2 in its opening game before beating Germany, last year’s runner-up, 6-1.

Sweden also routed Germany 6-1. Andre Burakovsky scored and added two assists and star defenceman Erik Karlsson had a goal and an assist. Sweden is the only team in Group B with a perfect record of three regulation wins in three games.

Switzerland prevailed against the Czech Republic 2-1 in a shootout for a third win in Group A. Kevin Fiala gave the Swiss a 1-0 lead and converted the decisive shootout goal. Matej Stransky tied it for the Czechs, who were defeated for the first time.

Earlier, Oliver Kapanen and Arttu Hyry scored two each for Finland to ease past Norway 4-1 for their second win in three games in Group A. Following his hat trick in Sunday’s 8-0 rout of Britain, Kapanen tops the goal scoring table with five. Norway remained without a point.

Canada, which opened with wins over Britain and Denmark, plays Austria on Tuesday.

Sabres’ Ruff gets some help

The Buffalo Sabres promoted minor-league head coach Seth Appert to serve as an assistant on Lindy Ruff's staff.

The move was announced Monday, three days after the Rochester Americans were eliminated from the second round of the American Hockey League playoffs. Appert went 123-94-22-10 in four seasons with the Amerks, where his experience in developing the team’s young core of players will help familiarize the incoming Ruff to Buffalo's roster.

The Sabres, in the midst of an NHL-record 13-season playoff drought, are in transition with Ruff returning to Buffalo for a second coaching stint after Don Granato was fired last month.

The Sabres also promoted Americans video co-ordinator Amir Gulati to the same role with the NHL team.