Sweden routs Germany; Czechs win

Co-host Germany came crashing back to earth at the ice hockey world championship by losing to Sweden 7-2 on Saturday, the day after upsetting the United States.

The Germans were brimming with confidence from beating the Americans 2-1 and were tied at 2 early into the secondperiodinCologne.But2013 championSweden—whichlost toRussiainovertimeonFriday — stepped up a gear to move to the top of Group A.

Center William Nylander atoned for missing in the shootout loss to Russia with two goals and an assist; while left winger Gabriel Landeskog had a goal and two assists in a captain’s performance for nine-time champion Sweden.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic bounced back from a heavy opening loss to defending champion Canada by routing Belarus 6-1.

After losing 4-1 to Group B rival Canada on Friday, the 2010 champion Czechs were in rampant form.

Forwards Petr Vrana, Roman Cervenka and Jakub Voracek all scored, as did defensemen Radko Gudas, Radim Simek and Michal Kempny. It was a second straight loss for Belarus.

Also in Group B, veteran left winger Patrick Thoresen, starred with two goals and an assist as Norway downed cohost France 3-2 in Paris. Center Stephane Da Costa scored both French goals.

Switzerland blew a 4-0 lead before scraping past Slovenia 5-4 in a shootout.

The Swiss, beaten finalists in 2013, struck a fourgoal salvo in the first period, with Andres Ambuhl, Gaetan Haas, Romain Loeffel and Simon Bodenmann scoring.

Slovenia pulled goaltender Gasper Kroselj and replaced him with Matija Pintaric and clawed its way back with a goal from right winger Jan Mursak midway through a feisty second period. Winger Robert Sabolic went on to level the score late on.

PETR DAVID JOSEK — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Flyers Radko Gudas, partially hidden, and Jakub Voracek celebrate with Radim Simek, right, after the Czech Republic scored during the World Championships group B match against Belarus in Paris on Saturday.