TURIN, Italy – The U.S. hockey team found just what it needed to get going in the Olympics: a good night's rest and a game against Kazakhstan.
Rick DiPietro, in his debut in goal, stopped 11 shots yesterday in a 4-1 victory. The United States (1-0-1) used three first-period goals to move into second place in Group B with three points, behind Slovakia – the Americans' next opponent and the only 2-0 team in the six-squad bunch.
It didn't take long for the United States to shake off any remaining jet lag and the disappointment of its 3-3 tie with Latvia in Wednesday's opener. The Americans quickly established dominance over a team that included only two NHL players.
Anything but a victory would have made the chances of advancing to the quarterfinals almost impossible as the Americans still have their three toughest matchups ahead of them in a four-day span beginning tomorrow.
Kazakhstan, outshot 36-12 yesterday, has been outscored 11-3 in its two losses.
The Americans peppered goaltender Vitaly Kolesnik, who has been in the minor leagues since a seven-game stay with the Colorado Avalanche in December. Kolesnik faced 17 shots in the first period and gave up power-play goals to Brian Rolston and Brian Gionta, plus an even-strength score by Bill Guerin that made it 1-0 just 1:34 into the game.
Mike Modano made it 4-1 at 11:53 of the third, 51 seconds after Yevgeniy Koreshkov scored for Kazakhstan on its first third-period shot.
Other games
Canada's Wade Redden, Joe Sakic and Simon Gagne gave the defending gold medalist a 3-0 lead halfway through the first period en route to a 5-1 win over Germany.
David Aebischer made 20 of his 40 saves in the second period, and Switzerland stunned the Czech Republic 3-2.
Alex Kovalev and Alexander Ovechkin scored less than two minutes apart during a three-goal second period, and Russia shut out Sweden 5-0.
Marian Hossa scored twice to lead Slovakia over Latvia 6-3.
Teemu Selanne scored twice for Finland in a 6-0 rout of Italy.
Hasek out
Czech goaltending star Dominik Hasek, 41, is iffy for a return to the Olympics. A team spokesman said Hasek has a tense muscle in his left leg, and his chances of returning are 30-40 percent.
Women's semifinals
The United States will play Sweden in the first semifinal today. Canada and Finland will play afterward. The winners meet Monday in the gold-medal game. Canada and the United States are favored to play for the gold. The two have whipped their competition by a combined score of 54-4.
