Russia beat Switzerland 5-3 to clinch top spot in their group at the ice hockey world championships while Norway's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals were left hanging by a thread.

Needing a win in their final qualification round contest to secure a place in the last eight, Norway were pounded 9-1 by the United States leaving their fate in the hands of Germany, who face-off against Latvia later on Monday.

Norway can still reach the quarter-finals for the first time but must hope the Germans beat Latvia.

In Quebec City, Russia stormed to a 4-0 lead then fended off a spirited comeback bid by the Swiss to conclude the qualification round with an unbeaten record and claim first place in the Group E standings.

The Swiss will not have to wait long for their chance at revenge, the Russian victory setting up a quarter-final rematch.

The Czech Republic finished second in the Group E standings and will face-off against Olympic champions Sweden for a place in the medal round.

Maxim Sushinskiy led Russia with a pair of goals while NHL scoring champion Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, Dmitri Kalinin and Sergei Fedorov each found the net once.

Down 4-0, the Swiss, who could have pushed Russia out of top spot with a win, rallied in the third behind a powerplay tally from Raffaele Sannitz and a shorthanded effort from Julien Vauclair.

But Sushinskiy stalled the Swiss rally with a late third period goal.

Beaten by Finland with the help of a phantom goal on Sunday, the U.S. took out their anger on the Norwegians.

Brandon Dubinsky paced the Americans with a hat-trick, while Dustin Brown tallied twice and Patrick Kane, Zach Parise, Paul Martin and Phil Kessel each found the net once.

Mats Trygg ruined Robert Esche's shutout bid, scoring Norway's lone goal midway through the second period.

"We got spanked," said Norway captain Tommy Jakobsen. "We stopped playing as a team. They scored one, then two and we had to chase all the time."

Reuters