VANCOUVER — Alex Ovechkin flattened Jaromir Jagr with a visor-breaking, center-ice hit that powered Russia right into the Olympic hockey quarterfinals.
The open-ice smackdown by the NHL MVP was the spotlight moment of Russia’s 4-2 victory over the Czech Republic on Sunday. Ovechkin also had two assists, and Evgeni Malkin scored two goals.
Jagr had circled with the puck before the Russian caught him high with his arm.
“I made one turnover there, and it cost us the game. I feel horrible,” Jagr said. “I didn’t see if it was an elbow or not. It doesn’t really matter. It wasn’t called. They got the puck, they scored. That heals, but the mistake doesn’t heal. I wish I had a concussion and just forget what happened, but I remember it.”
With the victory, Russia claimed first place in Group B with seven points.
U.S. skip makes move
VANCOUVER — Struggling U.S. skip Debbie McCormick pulled herself out of the fourth position and instead threw third stone against defending gold medalist Sweden. But the U.S. fell anyway, 9-3
The Canadian women’s curlers (5-0) made quick work of the U.S. team earlier, winning 9-2 in a shortened, seven-end match to stay unbeaten.
• The U.S. men’s run is all but over after the team fell to Britain 4-2. The Americans fell to 2-5, practically assuring their elimination from the semifinals.
Burke finishes 18th
WHISTLER, British Columbia — In the men’s 15-kilometer mass start biathlon, World Cup leader Evgeny Ustyugov of Russia took the gold and Tim Burke failed again to end the American biathlon drought, finishing 18th.
“It’s a complete disappointment,” Burke said. “I came here with three podium finishes, ranked third in the World Cup, had never been outside the top 30 in a race.”
Footnotes.
Speedskater Ireen Wust of the Netherlands stunned the home team by winning a gold medal in the women’s 1,500 meters. Canada’s Christine Nesbitt, who took gold in the 1,000, was sixth, but teammate Kristina Groves won silver. The Americans were no factor. Heather Richardson was 16th, Jennifer Rodriguez 18th, Jilleanne Rookard 24th and Catherine Raney-Norman 31st.
• The first double-gold winner at these Games is delaying her bid for No. 3. Norway’s Marit Bjoergen is skipping the team sprint today to rest before the relay and 30K classical race.
• Olympic favorite Kim Yu-na of South Korea will skate 23rd out of 30 competitors in Tuesday’s women’s short program. U.S. champion Rachael Flatt of Colorado Springs drew the 28th position, and teammate Mirai Nagasu will skate 11th.
• Sweden’s top sprinter Emil Joensson pulled out of the men’s cross country team sprint today because of an ear infection.
• Ukrainian ski jumper Vitaliy Shumbarets was taken to a hospital after crashing during training. Officials say Shumbarets did not appear to be seriously injured.
The Associated Press
