Gangneung, South Korea: Michal Repik scored two goals and the Czech Republic, seeking their first Olympic men’s hockey title since 1998, advanced to the Pyeongchang quarter-finals on Sunday by defeating Switzerland 4-1.
The unbeaten Czechs joined the Olympic Athletes from Russia as direct qualifiers for Wednesday’s quarter-final play-off round, with two more last-eight spots up for grabs in Sunday’s later final group-stage games.
After a Monday break, eight teams will play knockout matches Tuesday to decide qualifiers for the other four quarter-final berths.
Repik’s power-play goal opened the scoring 7:09 into the first period but Thomas Rufenacht answered for the Swiss 7:38 later.
Dominik Kubalik’s goal 3:02 into the third period lifted the Czechs back on top.
Repik and Roman Cervenka added empty-net goals in the dying seconds after the Swiss pulled goaltender Jonas Hiller for an extra attacker.
Patrick Hager scored in regulation and again in a shoot-out as Germany beat Norway 2-1 to wrap up group play. Danny aus den Birken made 28 saves and stopped all three shots he saw in the shoot-out Sunday.
Germany opened the scoring on a power play in the second when Hager took a pass from Dominik Kahun and stuffed the puck past goaltender Lars Haugen.
Norway tied the game in the third period. Both teams played cautiously in overtime, with Norway failing to capitalise even with nearly two minutes on the man advantage.
Haugen made 36 saves but didn’t stop a shot in the shoot-out.
