BRATISLAVA, May 9 (Reuters) - Canadian captain Rick Nash scored a late winner in his team's 3-2 win over Sweden on Monday to set the Olympic champions up for a quarter-final against Russia at the world ice hockey championship.
Earlier, Norway joined Canada, holders Czech Republic, the United States, Sweden, Russia, Finland and Germany in the quarter-finals which start on Wednesday.
"Our goal is to win the gold," John Tavares, who scored Canada's second goal, told reporters.
"We played them (Russia) last year, we didn't do so well, hopefully we can do much better this year.
"I feel that our team is in a better place and is playing much better that we did last year at this stage of the tournament."
The Russia-Finland game went to a shootout before Finn Jarkko Immonen delivered the 3-2 game winner.
"We have to play better than this in the quarter-final, because we'll face an even better team than today," Russia's New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk told reporters. "We have to play our best hockey if we want to get through."
Kevin Lotscher netted twice as Switzerland upset the United States 5-3 in Kosice and Marius Holtet's four goals lifted Norway to a crushing 5-2 win over France to secure the last available quarter-final slot.
Hosts Slovakia managed a 4-1 win over Denmark in a farewell game at the tournament for both teams.
"It is hard for me to talk. The fans gave us an amazing goodbye. I hope that our successors will pay them back in the future," Slovakia team captain Pavol Demitra told reporters.
Demitra, 36, who played for the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild among others, said the championship was his last for the national team.
Earlier, Norway joined Canada, holders Czech Republic, the United States, Sweden, Russia, Finland and Germany in the quarter-finals which start on Wednesday.
"Our goal is to win the gold," John Tavares, who scored Canada's second goal, told reporters.
"We played them (Russia) last year, we didn't do so well, hopefully we can do much better this year.
"I feel that our team is in a better place and is playing much better that we did last year at this stage of the tournament."
The Russia-Finland game went to a shootout before Finn Jarkko Immonen delivered the 3-2 game winner.
"We have to play better than this in the quarter-final, because we'll face an even better team than today," Russia's New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk told reporters. "We have to play our best hockey if we want to get through."
Kevin Lotscher netted twice as Switzerland upset the United States 5-3 in Kosice and Marius Holtet's four goals lifted Norway to a crushing 5-2 win over France to secure the last available quarter-final slot.
Hosts Slovakia managed a 4-1 win over Denmark in a farewell game at the tournament for both teams.
"It is hard for me to talk. The fans gave us an amazing goodbye. I hope that our successors will pay them back in the future," Slovakia team captain Pavol Demitra told reporters.
Demitra, 36, who played for the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Wild among others, said the championship was his last for the national team.
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