UFA, Russia - Martin Frk scored twice Sunday as the Czech Republic beat Latvia 4-2 to clinch a spot in the next round at the world junior hockey championship.
Petr Beranek and Dmitriij Jaskin also scored for the Czechs in the Pool A matchup. Roberts Lipsbergs and Nikita Evpalovs replied for Latvia, which is winless at the tournament.
Jaskin's goal with just 6:14 left in regulation broke a 2-2 tie.
The Czechs have six points, good for second place in Pool A, but still have a chance to finish first.
With the loss, the winless Latvians (0-0-4) now head to the relegation round.
In other action, Markus Granlund scored twice in regulation and added the shootout winner Sunday as Finland defeated Switzerland.
Switzerland sped to a 2-0 lead in the first period on goals by Lino Martschini and Sven Andrighetto just 61 seconds apart, but Granlund and Teuvo Teravainen tied the score for Finland in the second.
Switzerland then went up 4-2 in the third on goals by Alessio Bertaggia and Dario Simion, but Teravainen scored again and Granlund sent the game into overtime with a goal with less than two minutes left in regulation.
Joonas Korpisalo stopped 19 shots to get the win, while Melvin Nyffeler made 53 saves in taking the loss.
"It was a great battle for us," Korpisalo said. "The first period was pretty horrible, but after that we tied the game and were much better."
The Finns are now second in Pool B ahead of Switzerland with five points. The Swiss have earned points in all three games and also have five points, but are seeded third by virtue of Sunday's loss.
In other action, Peter Ceresnak scored on the power play at 1:40 of overtime Sunday as Slovakia defeated Germany.
Germany's Sebastian Uvira was sent off for hooking just 57 seconds into the extra period and Ceresnak hammered home the deciding goal with a one-timer from the faceoff circle on the ensuing man advantage.
Bruno Mraz had the other goal for the Slovaks, while Tobias Grieder replied for the Germans.
Slovakia set up a showdown with the United States on New Year's Eve for third place in Group B.
The Germans, with four straight losses, are will take part in the relegation round.
