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BEIJING — The United States suffered a shock 3-2 quarter-final loss to Slovakia in a thrilling clash at the Beijing Games men’s ice hockey tournament on Wednesday.

While Slovakia dreams of the country’s first-ever Olympic medal in the sport, Denmark’s hopes were dashed when the debutants lost 3-1 to the defending champions Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) and Finland beat Switzerland 5-1.

Slovakia clinched a spot in the last four when Peter Cehlarik was the only skater to score in a hard-fought shootout, beating USA goalkeeper Strauss Mann after extra time ended with the game deadlocked at 2-2.

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“It’s tough, I felt pretty good in the shootout and I felt good on that shot too. I felt like I read it pretty well, it just snuck under my blocker,” Mann said.

“It’s a thumbs up game, I know everyone in our dressing room gave it their all and the props fought hard and stayed true,” he added.

After Cehlarik’s goal, the United States had one last chance to extend the shootout, but captain Andy Miele couldn’t beat goalie Patrik Rybar and the Slovak bench erupted in a wild party.

Undefeated in the group, USA cruised to the semi-finals in regulation time, leading 2-1 until Slovakia pulled Rybar for an extra striker and were rewarded with Marek Hrivik’s equalizer with 44 seconds left. do to force the extension.

The Americans cobbled together an Olympic college and minor league and European team when the National Hockey League opted out after a spike in COVID-19 cases in the locker room forced the postponement of more than 100 games .

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YOUNGEST PLAYER

With the majority of Team USA still playing college hockey, it had the youngest roster, but Slovakia featured the youngest player in Juraj Slafkovsky, 17.

The teenager underscored his status as the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft next year, leading the Olympic scoring chart with five points.

If there were any NHL scouts left who weren’t already impressed with Slafkovsky, he gave them more reason to get upset when he unloaded a missile from the slot that Mann could only salute when he landed in the back of the net.

The USA responded with 46 seconds left in the first period with a trick backhand from Nick Abruzzese before Sam Hentges gave them a 2-1 lead with the only second period goal.

As one half of the former Czechoslovakia, Slovakia made several appearances on the Olympic podium and, as an independent nation, reached the semi-finals at the Vancouver Games in 2010 but did not win a medal. losing to Finland in the bronze medal game.

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“It happened 12 years ago and now I can’t wait to play in the semi-finals,” Slafkovsky said. “I was watching this but I was six years old and had to go to school or kindergarten.

“It’s amazing that this is happening.”

ODDS OF SCORING

The ROC have yet to get their attack going but have beaten brave Denmark with a goal in each period.

Nikita Nesterov, Vadim Shipachyov and Vyacheslav Voinov scored for ROC while Frans Nielsen netted Denmark’s only goal.

“We started to play better offensively,” said ROC head coach Alexei Zhamnov. “We had a lot of chances to score but we’re not there yet. We have to score more goals.

Finland took an early lead with striker Miro Aaltonen and defender Mikko Lehtonen scoring in the first half and Marko Anttila adding another early in the second.

Five-time Olympian Andres Ambuhl turned on the power play to put the Swiss on the board, but Finland responded in third by scoring twice with less than five minutes remaining.

This victory gives Finland a possible path to the podium, after their bronze medal in Sochi.

The quarter-finals continue on Wednesday as Canada takes on Sweden in late play. (Reporting by Steve Keating, additional reporting by Amy Tennery; Editing by Ken Ferris and Himani Sarkar)