Underdogs Austria stunned Switzerland 4-3 in a penalty shootout at the ice hockey world championships on Saturday to record their first victory against the 2013 runners-up in 18 years.

In the Group A game played in Prague, Switzerland outshot their rivals 37-25 and led by a goal three times, but Austria always managed to get back on level terms.

Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl made it 3-3 50 seconds before the end as Austria pulled their goalie, while his brother Thomas had a goal and an assist.

Austria's Konstantin Komarek scored the only goal of the penalty shootout, beating Colorado Avalanche goalie Reto Berra in the Swiss goal.

Later on Saturday, Germany beat France 2-1 with a power play goal scored by Nuremberg forward Patrick Reimer a minute before the end.

Germany took the lead with a Michael Wolf goal in the 12th minute and held on to it until the 50th minute when Damien Fleury scored for France.

But French hopes were dashed when Sacha Treille got two minutes for hooking and Reimer slammed the puck into the net 13 seconds after the power play started.

In Group B played in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, Slovakia beat Denmark 4-3, also following a shootout, after peppering Danish goalie Patrick Galbraith with 43 shots against 19 for Denmark.

Denmark went ahead 25 minutes into the game and Galbraith kept a clean sheet until the 49th minute when a scoring spree started -- Slovakia managed three goals and Denmark one within three minutes.

Denmark made it 3-3 two minutes before the end, but Slovakia were more skilful in the shootout with Columbus Blue Jackets forward Marko Dano beating Galbraith in the sixth round to hand the Slovaks an extra point.

Belarus then overpowered Slovenia 4-2 in the group's second game of the day.

Three goals between the 10th and 12th minute made it 2-1 for Belarus who extended their lead in the second period.

Slovenia managed to narrow it to a goal in the third and pulled their goalie for a six-on-four power play, but a blunder on the blue line handed Belarus a fourth goal into the empty net.
Source: AFP