MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's national team thrashed Ukraine 6-0 Thursday to book its place in the quarterfinals of the 2006 IIHF world hockey championship in Latvia.
Captain Maxim Sushinsky netted in the first period to give Russia a lead and added in the third, with two assists from Washington Capitals' forward Alexander Ovechkin, a likely winner of this year's NHL's Rookie-of-the-Year award. Ovechkin scored twice in the third, with Sergei Mozyakin and Igor Grigorenko added the other goals.
Russia remains on top of qualifying Group F, which also includes Sweden, Switzerland, Belarus, Slovakia and Ukraine, with a maximum six points from the three games.
