OSTRAVA, Czech Republic -- Former NHL player Jonas Hoglund scored two goals yesterday to lead Sweden to a 3-1 victory against the United States in a qualifying-round game at the world hockey championships.

Sweden, already in the quarterfinals, is tied with Slovakia for first place in Group F with seven points. Slovakia defeated Denmark, 8-0, earlier yesterday.

The Americans, who needed at least a tie with Sweden to reach the quarterfinals, now must get at least a point against Denmark in the qualifying-round finale tomorrow in Prague to qualify for the final eight.

Hoglund, who now plays in Switzerland with Davos, put the Swedes ahead 2:26 in. Bates Battaglia scored at 6:10 in the second to tie the game at 1-all.

Hoglund scored on a power play 1:42 into the third to give Sweden a 2-1 lead. Michael Nylander of the Boston Bruins, one of 11 NHL players with Sweden, scored into an empty net with 4 seconds left after the U.S. team pulled goalie Mike Dunham for an extra attacker.

The Americans struggled following an emotional 3-2 must-win against Russia the previous night and were outshot, 40-21.

"We knew we would have an advantage sooner or later in the game because we didn't play last night," Sweden coach Hardy Nilsson said. "The main difference was that the Americans were a little bit more tired than we were."

United States coach Peter Laviolette agreed.

"They outskated us, they beat us to the puck, they beat us to defense to offense," he said. "We spent a lot of emotion and energy in the game last night -- a win that we needed to take with us."

In Prague, Scott Niedermayer of the New Jersey Devils and Dany Heatley of the Atlanta Thrashers each scored two goals, leading Canada to a 6-1 win against Germany in a Group E game.

The win guarantees the Canadians at least second place in the group. They can finish first with a win or a tie against the Czechs today. The Germans likely will have to beat the Swiss tomorrow to reach the quarterfinals.

Danny Briere and Scott Niedermayer's brother, Rob, added the other two goals for Canada, while Germany's Jochen Hecht ruined J.S. Giguere's shutout bid.

Canada converted three times on the power play, a relief for the squad, which had been struggling with its special teams.

"It feels good to get those power-play goals," Briere said. "We weren't very happy with our power play game up till now. We definitely need the power play if we want to keep moving on."

It was a moment loaded with significance for the Niedermayer brothers, who had not played together since youth hockey.

"It was a real thrill to get the chance to play together," Rob Niedermayer said.

In the early game in Prague, Jaromir Jagr scored and Martin Straka contributed two assists as the Czech Republic beat Switzerland, 3-1.