USA advances in World Hockey Championship

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, April 28 (UPI) -- One win was enough to get the United States into the qualifying round at the World Hockey Championships Wednesday.

Blake Sloan, a right wing with the Dallas Stars, scored two goals to lead the Americans to a 7-1 rout of the Ukraine.

The United States (1-1-1) clinched a spot in the qualifying round. The Americans finished in third place in Group B with three points, two behind first-place Slovakia. Team USA will face Russia on Saturday.

Last year, the Americans failed to advance to the qualifying round and finished 13th in a 16-team tournament.

Sloan opened the scoring at 8:43 of the first period and Ryan Malone of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Richard Park of the Minnesota Wild and Paul Mara of the Phoenix Coyotes followed with three straight power-play goals.

"Our power play was the best it's been in three games," said U.S. Coach Peter Laviolette of the Carolina Hurricanes.