TURIN, Italy, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Highlights from Thursday's action at the Winter Olympics:
-- The hockey tournament warmed up with the Czech Republic suffering an unexpected loss to Switzerland and the United States recording its first win, 4-1 over Kazakhstan. Finland has emerged as a major medal threat, having recorded two straight shutouts.
-- Russian two-time world champion Evgeni Plushenko captured the figure skating gold medal on an evening of flawed performances. American Johnny Weir slipped from second to fifth as the United States came away without a medal in men's figure skating for the third time in four Olympics.
-- The only American medal came from Scott Wescott, who won the debut sport of snowboarding cross. The event consists of four snowboarders roaring down a twisting course with elbows flying. The top two in each heat advance and Wescott survived three rounds of action before winning the gold.
-- Wescott's gold gave the United States six for the Olympics, one more than Germany and Russia. Norway leads in overall medals with 13.
-- Olga Pyleva of Russia had her silver medal in the women's 15-kilometer biathlon taken away for using a banned substance.
