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WORLD SPORT

Hannula hat-trick melts U.S. hopes

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Olympic champions Sweden were the first team into the world semis

RIGA, Latvia -- Mika Hannula scored a hat-trick in Sweden's 6-0 quarterfinal win over the United States at the ice hockey world championship in Latvia on Wednesday.

The Olympic champions were the first team into the semifinals, keeping their bid for an unprecedented Olympic/world double on track.

Sweden now face Canada who later beat Slovakia 4-1 after Sidney Crosby, Patrice Bergeron and Jeff Carter scored third period goals 99 seconds apart.

Hannula scored twice in the opening period to give Sweden a 2-0 lead, supported by Johan Holmqvist's shutout netminding.

Detroit Red Wings' Mikael Samuelsson, one of the eight players who also played at the Olympics in Turin, opened the scoring in the second while Kenny Jonsson added a powerplay marker to push the Tre Kronor in front 4-0.

Hannula collected his hat-trick midway through the third when he broke in alone and snapped up a low shot past Jason Bacashihua, who had replaced Craig Anderson in the U.S. net.

Andreas Karlsson completed the rout, scoring his fifth of the championship.

After dominating play through the opening two periods, out-shooting Slovakia 28-18, a frustrated Canada looked headed for an upset until the tournament's top scoring unit of Brad Boyes-Bergeron-Crosby once again came to the rescue.

"They (Slovakia) tested our will," said netminder Marc Denis, who was sharp making 22 saves to keep Canada in the game. "We were patient, we didn't do anything stupid and stuck with it until their bubble burst."

Deadlocked at 1-1 through two periods, Canada broke open the contest with a third period burst sparked when Bergeron skated into the left face-off circle, spun around quickly and rifled a shot past Karol Krizan.

Just 90 seconds later, Crosby picked a loose puck off Krizan's goal stick then flipped it over the Slovakian netminder to register his championship best seventh goal in seven games.

The Pittsburgh Penguins rookie also leads the tournament in scoring with 13 points.

Before Canadian fans had finished celebrating a 3-1 lead, Carter put the puck behind Krizan with just nine seconds later and there was no coming back for Slovakia.

"We didn't get frustrated," said Crosby. "You know, it's not always us. Cammalleri got the first one and that took the burden off our shoulders."

Slovakia drew first blood when Milo Dusan's blast from the blue line found its way through a crowd in front of the Canadian goal past netminder Marc Denis.

Canada evened the score with just under five minutes remaining in the second when Los Angeles Kings Cammalleri popped home a rebound after Krizan was unable to control a thundering slap shot from captain Brendan Shanahan.

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