Defending champions Russia extended their winning ways at the world ice hockey championships with a hard-fought 3-2 win over hosts Germany in a Group E clash here on Saturday. Washington Capitals star striker Alexander Ovechkin netted Russia's winning goal, while Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves to assure their team's fourth consecutive win. 'We expected Germany to play a defensive style and they did in the first two periods,' Ovechkin said. 'But the late goal in the second period and their home crowd's support added power to their performance in the third.' 'Luckily we managed to resist their onslaught and win. Now we shall prepare for tomorrow's match with Denmark, who are performing pretty well at this championship.' Russia, who won all seven previous meetings with Germany at the world championships in the post-Soviet Era, looked rusty from the start making too many unforced mistakes. Their careless play resulted in two early minor penalties, which Germany however failed to convert. But it was Russia, who scored the opening goal through New Jersey Devils marksman Ilya Kovalchuk, who sent home a ricochet from Los Angeles Kings forward Alexander Frolov's shot 14:20 into the match. Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nikolai Kulemin added his goal 6:10 into the second redirecting into the net a shot by Maxim Afinogenov, who is playing with Atlanta Thrashers, to make it 2-0 for Russia. Vancouver Canucks defender Christian Ehrhoff reduced the arrears, changing the path of his teammate Michael Wolf's shot with just one second remaining before the second intermission. Ovechkin restored Russia's two-goal lead from Alexander Semin's cross-ice pass with 10:14 to go in the match. Alexander Barta made it 3-2 four minutes later setting up a nervous finale. Meanwhile, in Group F, Switzerland also recorded their fourth consecutive win beating the Czech Republic 3-2 in Mannheim. Switzerland dominated at the start and veteran striker Martin Pluss gave his team the lead at 4:13 sweeping in a rebound after Czech goalie Tomas Vokoun deflected Goran Bezina's shot from just inside the blue line. Andreas Ambuhl made it 2-0 sending the puck home from just outside the crease from Damien Brunner's short cross with 5:53 remaining before the first intermission. But in the second period the Czechs levelled through forward Jan Marek and defender Miroslav Blatak, before Ambuhl netted his second of the match beating Vokoun with a wrist shot between the pads. 