BERN, Switzerland — Konstantin Gorovikov scored a power-play goal with less than two minutes to play, lifting Russia to a 3-2 victory over the United States in the semifinals Friday of the world hockey championships.
The defending champions will play in Sunday’s final against Canada, which beat Sweden 3-1 to set up a rematch of last year’s championship game.
Gorovikov scored the winner on a deflection with 1:47 left in the third period.
The U.S. had taken the lead in the second on a goal by captain Dustin Brown, then tied it on Kyle Okposo‘s goal late in the period after Ilya Kovalchuk and Alexander Frolov — on another ricochet — scored for Russia.
“We were very unlucky on two of their goals. Shots which were going wide hit somebody,” U.S. coach Ron Wilson said.
The U.S. will play Sweden for the bronze medal Sunday.
Filly headed to Preakness
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rachel Alexandra looks ready to take on the boys, with a familiar face in the saddle.
Stonestreet Stables owner Jess Jackson said he’s pointing the superstar 3-year-old filly to next Saturday’s Preakness — and Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Calvin Borel will be along for the ride.
Borel guided Rachel Alexandra to a 20 1/4-length victory in the Kentucky Oaks on May 1, then pulled a stunning upset aboard 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird in the Derby.
Borel would be the first jockey to ride the Derby winner, then hop on another horse for the Preakness.
Rams release leading tackler
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Rams released veteran linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa, the team’s leading tackler last season with 135.
Coach Steve Spagnuolo made the surprise announcement in a statement, calling it a “difficult decision based on a lot of factors.”
He did not elaborate.
• Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable said receiver Javon Walker recently informed the team he underwent knee surgery and won’t be ready until training camp.
• New Orleans Saints rookie linebacker Stanley Arnoux ruptured his left Achilles tendon and could miss the season.
Busch’s flat gives Kenseth boost
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Kyle Busch‘s flat tire with two laps left helped Matt Kenseth win the Diamond Hill Plywood 200 for his first Nationwide Series win of the season.
Earlier, Kenseth set a Darlington Raceway track record in capturing the pole for tonight’s Southern 500 after a qualifying crash.
Footnotes.
Jorge Rojas scored his first two MLS goals within a six- minute span of the first half, leading the New York Red Bulls to a 4-1 win over the visiting San Jose Earthquakes.
• Patrick Patterson is returning to Kentucky for his junior season. The forward averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds last season.
• The Skins Game, a Thanksgiving weekend tradition for nearly three decades, became golf’s latest victim of the economic downturn when organizers said it would be postponed this year with no guarantees it would return. The Associated Press
