Finland beat Slovakia, to face USA in quarter-final

Finland scored their sixth victory in the first round of the Ice Hockey World Championship as they beat Slovakia by 2 goals to 1 in Avicii Arena, Stockholm, Sweden on Tuesday.

Although all of the three top teams-Canada, Sweden and Finland- in the Group-A finished the preliminary round with six wins and a loss each, Finland placed third as two of their victories came in extra-time.

Canada placed top in the group after beating Sweden on Tuesday night as they lost to Finland in extra-time tiebreaker.

Host Sweden secured second place as they scored six victories in regular time.

Finland beat Austria, France, Slovenia, Latvia, Canada and Slovakia and lost to Sweden in the preliminary round of the tournament.

Finland will face Group B runners-up USA in the first quarter-final in the tournament on Wednesday.

In their last group match Finland beat Slovakia by 2 goals to 1.

Patrik Puistola scored the first goal at sixth minute to take lead for Finland and Waltteri Merela widened the gap at 39^th minute.

Robert Lantosi scored the lone goal for Slovakia at 55^th minute.