PRAGUE (AP) -- Belarus beat the United States for the first time 5-2 at the ice hockey world championship on Thursday.
Also, the host Czech Republic bounced back from a loss to Canada with a 5-1 win over France for its second victory.
Following five losses to the Americans, Belarus' milestone win in Ostrava was its third in the group stage, and a major step to advance to the quarterfinals for the second straight year.
Belarus tops Group B after four games with 10 points, one ahead of the U.S. and Russia.
Captain Alexei Kalyuzhny scored twice for Belarus, and Artur Gavrus, Artyom Volkov, and Alexander Kitarov scored one each.