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France's Yohann Auvitu (R) chases Finland's Jesse Joensuu during their 2012 IIHF men's ice hockey World Championship game in Helsinki May 10, 2012.GRIGORY DUKOR/REUTERS

Mikko Koivu scored and had three assists as Finland hammered France 7-1 at the IIHF World Hockey Championships on Thursday.

The win moved the defending champions ahead of Canada atop Group H in round-robin play.

Finland, which plays Canada on Friday, joined Sweden and Russia as the only teams undefeated in regulation at the tournament.

Elsewhere, the United States beat Belarus 5-3, Russia defeated Denmark 3-1 and the Czech Republic downed Latvia 3-1.

At Helsinki, Jussi Jokinen scored twice for Finland, while Juuso Hietanen, Jarkko Immonen, Janne Niskala and Niko Kapanen each added singles. Valtteri Filppula added three assists.

Anthony Guttig's third-period goal with the man advantage was all the offence France could muster.

After Immonen's goal in the first, Finland's offence exploded with four goals in the second.

France goaltender Fabrice Lhenry was in net for all seven goals while making 30 saves. At the other end, Petri Vehanen stopped 17 shots for the win.

United States 5, Belarus 3

At Helsinki, Jimmy Howard made 23 saves as the U.S. scored three unanswered goals to beat Belarus.

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Russia 3, Denmark 1

At Stockholm, Evgeni Malkin scored to keep Russia undefeated at the tournament.

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Czech Republic 3, Latvia 1

At Stockholm, the Czechs scored twice in the third period to earn their first regulation win.

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