After losing all three preliminary-round games by one goal, Team USA routed Kazakhstan 10-0 on Saturday in its first relegation-round game at the World Hockey Championships.
Two New York Rangers -- Matt Gilroy and Brandon Dubinsky -- led the way for the Americans. Gilroy, a rookie defenseman, scored three goals, while Dubinsky, a forward, scored once and added four assists. Rangers prospect Chris Kreider, who plays for Boston College, had the game's final goal after Team USA scored four times in the first period and five in the second. The four first-period goals matched the Americans' output in their third losses.
The United States has games remaining against France on Sunday and Italy on Tuesday. France beat Italy 2-1 in the other relegation-round game.
In qualification-round games, Switzerland took over first place in Group F with a 3-2 victory over the Czech Republic in Mannheim. Andreas Ambühl scored two goals and former NHL goaltender Martin Gerber stopped 30 shots for the Swiss, now 3-0-0. Unbeaten Russia held off Germany, the host nation, 3-2 in Cologne thanks to a third-period goal by Alex Ovechkin that turned out to be the game-winner..
Canada, which beat Norway 12-1 on Friday in its first qualification-round game, plays Sweden on Sunday.