PRAGUE, 3 May 2004 — Chris Drury’s short-handed goal with less than five minutes left gave the US a 3-2 win over Russia at the World Ice Hockey Championship on Saturday, virtually guaranteeing the Americans a quarterfinals spot.

The loss means a talented but inconsistent Russian team is unlikely to advance and spoils Soviet-era legendary coach Viktor Tikhonov’s return to the bench after a decade-long absence.

In other Group F action, Finland shut out Denmark 6-0, helped by a pair of goals by Olli Jokinen.

In Group E, Germany moved a step closer to the quarterfinals with a 3-1 win over Austria behind the strong performance of goalie Olaf Kolzig, while Marc Reichart scored late in the third period to give Switzerland a 1-1 tie against Latvia and salvage a key point.

Bitter rivals the US and Russia show their usual antipathy toward each other in a rugged, hard-fought match.

Dustin Brown opened the scoring nine minutes into the game to give the US the lead. But Russia stormed back with two second period goals by Dmitri Yushkevich and Andrei Bashkirov.

The US looked to be in trouble when Hal Gill’s penalty for interference left them a man down with 5:35 to play, but Mike Grier broke down the right side and swooped in for a shot. He failed to beat Maxim Sokolov, but the play pulled the Russian goalie out of position and Drury rammed home the rebound into a wide open net.

“I think our defensive play and the forechecking of our forwards at their blueline allows us to catch their defensemen flatfooted,” said Grier.

“I just took the puck and went wide and pulled it in and Chris was there to put it home.”

Tikhonov was so angry with the outcome he stormed off the bench and back to the locker room without the usual congratulatory handshake with the opposing coach.

For Russia to advance, they must overcome Finland and hope both Sweden and Denmark beat the US. If the Americans take a point in either of those games, Russia are out and the US in.

Sweden, Finland and Slovakia have already clinched spots in the quarterfinals.

Latvia were desperate for a win to strengthen their chances of finishing in the top four of Group E, but had to settle for a tie after Reichart’s heroics.

It took almost 50 minutes of play, but Grigorijs Pantelejevs finally lit the goal light to give Latvia a 1-0 lead.

With Arturs Irbe looking unbeatable, Latvia were on the verge of a win but Reichart’s high shot beat the diminutive Carolina Hurricanes’ goalie Arturs Irbe — who was screened on the play — to tie the game.

Latvia and Switzerland both have two points in Group E but the Swiss have two games left to Latvia’s one. Austria have two points and two games left, while Canada and the Czech Republic are already assured of spots in the top four.

Germany are in third place on three points with two games remaining.