Germany claim record Ice Hockey World Championship win

Germany claimed a record 5-1 Ice Hockey World Championship victory over previously unbeaten Slovakia on Tuesday to keep their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive.

Marco Sturm's Germany side were beaten in their first two games of the tournament, but responded with a much-needed win in St Petersburg.

Patrick Hager, Patrick Reimer, and Dominik Kahun rose to the occasion, scoring a goal apiece and also claiming assists as Slovakia were consigned to their heaviest Ice Hockey World Championship loss to Germany.

Philip Gogulla and Brooks Macek were also on target, while Moritz Muller played a key role with a pair of assists for Sturm's men.

Peter Cehlarik scored for a Slovakia side that won their first two games and sit third in Group B.

France are up to fourth in Group B after hammering winless Hungary 6-2, thanks in no small part to Sacha Treille.

Treille scored twice as France made it two wins out of three in the preliminary round of the tournament, ensuring Hungary are still without a solitary point.

Raphael Diaz followed up his late equaliser against Norway by making another telling contribution as Switzerland claimed a 3-2 overtime win against Denmark.

Switzerland fought back from two goals down to seal a victory which puts them fifth in Group A, with Diaz setting up Nino Niederreiter for the late leveller and Eric Blum scoring the winner.

Norway were 4-2 winners over Kazakhstan in the other game, which moved them level on points with third-placed Sweden.