Tkachuk Scores Four as US Defeats Russia, 5-3

Keith Tkachuk scored four goals and added an assist Tuesday night, carrying Team USA to a 5-3 win over Team Russia in the World Cup of Hockey quarterfinals.

The third-seeded American squad had lost their preliminary round matchup with the Russians by the score of 3-1.

Tkachuk opened the game’s scoring by tipping a Mike Modano backhand shot between the legs of Russian netminder Ilya Bryzgalov with 8:40 remaining in the first period.

Just 1:56 into the second period, Tkachuk struck again when he took a pass from Bill Guerin in front of the net and drove the puck by Bryzgalov.

The Russians evened the game on goals by Dmitry Afanasenkov and Danius Zubrus.

Scott Gomez scored off the rebound of a Tkachuk shot at 4:25 of the third and 22 seconds later Tkachuk got the hat trick by redirecting a pass from Guerin at the side of the net.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored on the power play to bring Russia within a goal but it wouldn’t be enough.

Tkachuk’s fourth goal of the night came with the Russian net empty and 55 seconds left to play.

The United States now advances to the semifinals, where they will face either the Czech Republic or Finland, depending on the result of the Canada-Slovakia matchup on Wednesday night.

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In the first quarterfinal game of the tournament, Finland held off a hungry German team to earn a late 2-1 victory on Monday. The Czech Republic capitalized on weak Swedish goaltending to pick up a 6-1 win in Tuesday’s early game.