Finns blank Britain to stay on roll at worlds

KOSICE, SLOVAKIA Mikko Lehtonen had a goal and an assist as Finland shut out Britain 5-0 at the hockey world championships on Friday.

Toni Rajala, Atte Ohtamaa and Joel Kiviranta scored in the second period before Kristian Kuusela stretched the lead to 4-0 with an empty-net goal in the third. Lehtonen finished it off with a power-play goal with 11 seconds remaining.

Finland moved into first in Group B with 13 points after five games, but they have played one more game than undefeated Germany. Britain, which returned to the top division after 25 years, has been outscored 31-4 in five losses.

Slovakia rebounded from three straight losses with a 6-3 victory over France on Friday, keeping alive its slim hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. Richard Panik scored and had two assists and Erik Cernak had a goal and an assist for Slovakia, which moved into fifth in Group A with six points after five games.

The top four teams from each eight-team group advance to the quarter-finals.

Slovakia led 3-0 midway through the second period before France answered with a pair of goals, but the Slovaks scored three times in the first six minutes of the third period.

France, which lost to Denmark in a shootout on Saturday, has not won any of its five games.

In Bratislava, the Czech Republic routed Italy 8-0 as Michael Frolik and Dmitrij Jaskin each scored twice. Radko Gudas also scored, with a slap shot from the centre line in the second period.

The Czechs are tied with unbeaten Russia and Switzerland atop Group B with 12 points, but they have played one more game.

Earlier in Group B, Norway beat Austria 5-3 in a meeting of two teams looking for their first win.