ICE HOCKEY

Eight teams are trying to survive the preliminary round and join the six NHL-stocked hockey powers in the medal round.

Japan, before a frenzied, flag-waving crowd, battled Germany into the third period before Daniel Kunce broke a 1-1 tie by jamming in a rebound with 9:36 left. Jan Brenda scored an insurance goal five minutes later for the Germans.

Kazakhstan made its debut a success by rallying to beat Italy, 5-3. Backup goaltender Alexandr Shimin took over for Vitaliy Yeremeyev at the start of the second period and stopped all six shots he faced to help Kazakhstan erase a 3-1 deficit.

Belarus ruined Herb Brooks’ Olympic return by defeating France, 4-0. For Brooks, coach of the 1980 American gold-medal-winning team, it was his first loss as an Olympic coach.

Slovakia, expected to be the best team in its preliminary pool, was tied, 2-2, by surprising Austria. Slovakia, the sixth-place finisher in the 1994 Olympics, played without NHL stars Peter Bondra and Zigmund Palffy. The pair will join the team for the final round--if it advances out of preliminary play.