Bellows leads U.S. to semifinal vs. Sweden

Back in the day, Brian Bellows made a habit of filling nets across the NHL. In a career that spanned nearly 1,200 games, Bellows scored 485 goals, including a career-high 55 with the Minnesota North Stars in 1989-90.

Decades later, his son is filing nets at the 2018 world junior hockey championship.

Kieffer Bellows scored a pair of goals, including the winner at 12:31 of the third period, as the United States earned a 4-2 victory against Russia and a berth in the semifinals Thursday.

Bellows leads the world junior tournament with six goals.

The U.S. will meet Sweden in the first semifinal in the afternoon, with Canada and the Czech Republic squaring off later that night.

Sweden survived a scare from Slovakia, winning their quarterfinal 3-2.

The Russians, who won a medal in each of the past seven world junior tournaments, are going home.

The U.S. ensured victory when captain Joey Anderson scored an empty netter with 41.2 seconds left.

Goaltender Joseph Woll, a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, stopped 27 shots in the U.S. net.

Both Woll and his backup on Tuesday night, Jake Oettinger, could be in the mix to be one of the three goaltenders on the U.S. roster in the Winter Olympics next month in South Korea.

Bellows’ deciding goal came off a slapshot, beating Russian netminder Vladislav Sukhachyov over the goalie’s right shoulder.

Russia tied the game at 3:39 of the third period on a terrific play by Andrei Altybarmakyan. The speedy forward burst past defenceman Adam Fox and deked to his backhand to score on Woll.

The Americans outshot the Russians 43-29.