Tkachuk’s Four Goals Lift U.S.

The United States again went with a younger lineup, but it was the veteran line of Keith Tkachuk, Mike Modano and Bill Guerin that played ageless hockey.

Tkachuk had four goals -- all assisted by Modano -- and had an assist as the Americans’ top line accounted for 11 points and led the U.S. into the World Cup of Hockey semifinals with a 5-3 victory over Russia on Tuesday night at St. Paul, Minn.

The St. Louis Blues’ forward -- normally the target of boos at the Minnesota Wild’s Xcel Energy Center -- was the difference for the Americans, who avenged last week’s loss to the Russians by eliminating them from the tournament.

“We went through a lull last week,” Tkachuk said. “We were tired, and when you’re tired you cut corners. But these are elimination games, and we’re hitting our stride now.”

The U.S. will play Finland or the Czech Republic, which advanced from the European Division, Friday night at St. Paul. Canada plays host to Slovakia in Toronto tonight with the final semifinal berth on the line.

The Czech Republic beat Sweden, 6-1, in a quarterfinal at Stockholm behind two goals by Milan Hejduk.

After being outworked by Canada and Russia last week, the U.S. beat struggling Slovakia, 3-1, but still looked like the underdog against the Russians. But the roles reversed in the rematch, with Russia making costly turnovers that the suddenly opportunistic Americans didn’t waste.

“The biggest mistake we made is we’re not playing practical hockey like the U.S. and Canada play,” Oleg Tverdovsky of Russia said. “That’s why they’re beating the European teams.”

Pro Basketball

Alana Beard had 20 points and a career-high six assists to lead the host Washington Mystics over the Sacramento Monarchs, 67-63, in overtime in a WNBA game.

It was the first victory for the Mystics (13-16) since the league’s Olympic break. The Monarchs’ (15-14) four-game winning streak ended.

Jurisprudence

Tommy Kane, 40, a receiver with the Seattle Seahawks from 1988 to 1992, pleaded guilty in Quebec Superior Court to manslaughter in the death of his wife and will have a sentencing hearing Sept. 27.

Kane’s wife, Tammara Shaikh, died after police found her in a Montreal apartment on Nov. 30, 2003. The prosecutor in the case said Shaikh, 35, had been stabbed and beaten to death. Kane and Shaikh were separated at the time.

Miscellany

Terry Holland, the former basketball coach and athletic director at Virginia, agreed to a five-year contract to become athletic director at East Carolina, the school said.

Holland coached Virginia from 1974 to 1990 and is the winningest coach in school history with a 326-173 record.

His teams twice reached the Final Four. He became athletic director at Davidson in 1990 and was athletic director at Virginia from 1995 to 2001.

Because of financial reasons, China will build five stadiums for the 2008 Beijing Olympics instead of the 10 that were originally planned.

The plan was announced by the government less than a month after the International Olympic Committee requested that China reduce construction to cut costs.

Michael Rogers of Australia was awarded the 2003 time trial world title by the International Cycling Union after David Millar of Britain decided not to appeal his drug-related disqualification.

The silver medal went to Uwe Peschel of Germany, and the bronze to Michael Rich of Germany.