Datsyuk’s hat trick helps Russia beat Denmark 6-1 and reach hockey worlds quarterfinals

Unbeaten Russia tops Denmark 6-1 at hockey worlds

COLOGNE, Germany — Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings had a hat-trick, Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin added his fifth goal in five games and unbeaten Russia cruised into the ice hockey world championship quarterfinals with a 6-1 victory over Denmark on Sunday.

The two-time defending champions improved to 4-0 and lead Group E with 12 points. Russia, a record 25-time champion, also extended its worlds winning streak to 23 games, dating to a 2-1 overtime loss against Finland in 2007.

Datsyuk, playing his second game since joining the Russian team late after Detroit was eliminated from the NHL playoffs, opened the scoring after 15 minutes. Ovechkin tallied a short-handed goal just before the first intermission for a 2-0 lead.

Mads Christiansen pulled one back for the Danes on a power play five minutes into the second period, but Pittsburgh Penguins forward Evgeni Malkin scored off a Datsyuk feed for a 3-1 lead with six minutes to play in the second.

Datsyuk added two more goals within three minutes for a 5-1 advantage, and Nikolai Kulemin of the Toronto Maple Leafs finished off the scoring for Russia with seven minutes remaining.

Vasili Koshechkin made 30 saves for Russia.

Denmark has six points with a 2-2 record in the group and still has a good chance of reaching the quarterfinals.

In Group F, Jonas Andersson scored two goals as Sweden beat Canada 3-1 to improve to 3-1 with nine points and earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Canada’s record dropped to 2-2 for six points despite Brooks Laich’s final goal of the game.

Latvia scored five goals in the third period for a 5-0 victory over Norway that kept it alive for a quarterfinal berth.

The United States, meanwhile, earned its second straight shutout with Ottawa Senators forward Nick Foligno scoring twice and Brandon Dubinsky of the New York Rangers adding a goal and two assists in a 4-0 victory over France in the relegation round.

The Americans have six points in Group G, but have yet to secure a spot at worlds next year. They play Italy on Tuesday in their final relegation-group game.

Italy is 1-1 with three points after a 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan, which has zero points.