MINSK, Belarus -- France clinched a spot in the quarterfinals of the ice hockey world championship with a 6-2 victory over Denmark on Monday, while Finland kept alive its hopes of advancing by beating Kazakhstan 4-3. In the late matches, host Belarus reached the quarterfinals for the third time by edging Latvia 3-1 and Gustav Nyquist led defending champion Sweden with two goals in a 5-1 win over Italy. Stephane Da Costa scored twice as France netted four unanswered third-period goals in a span of less than six minutes. The game had been tied 2-2 after the second period. France, which stunned Canada in its first game of the tournament, reached the quarterfinals for the first time since 1995. "This is huge for French hockey," France coach Dave Henderson said. "Its been a long time since it last happen. Im totally happy with the team." Julien Desrosiers, Antoine Roussel, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Antonin Manavian also scored for France. Jesper Jensen and Kim Staal scored for Denmark. The result means the Czech Republic also advanced to the quarterfinals from Group A together with defending champion Sweden and Canada. The first four teams advance from both groups. France has also beaten Slovakia and Norway in Belarus. It will meet the Czech Republic on Tuesday in a match to decide who finishes third in the group. The loser will face Group Bs winner -- high-scoring Russia -- in the quarterfinals. Sweden leads Group A but Canada can reclaim the top spot with a victory over Norway in its last group game on Tuesday. Geoff Platt and Mikhail Grabovski scored 33 seconds apart in the first period for Belarus and Sergei Kostitsyn put the puck into the empty net with one second left in front of a roaring crowd. Captain Olli Jokinen scored to put Finland 3-2 ahead when his shot hit defenceman Alexei Litvinenko in the face before deflecting into the net, and also set up the winning goal for Jarkko Immonen as Finland stayed in contention. Belarus has 12 points in Group B, with Finland one point behind. Latvia has nine but can still advance if it beats Switzerland on Tuesday. The United States already qualified for the playoffs from the group along with Russia. "Well probably be watching the games later and hoping that we can continue in the tournament, Juuso Hietanen said. "We have to do all the preparation as if we are going to play on Wednesday in the next stage." Terry Bradshaw Jersey .Y. - DeMarre Carroll felt as though he couldnt miss in the second quarter as he outscored the Brooklyn Nets 14-13 all by himself. Merril Hoge Jersey . They probably ruined Tim Duncans hopes of a career change, though. Duncan wants to be a point guard, coach Gregg Popovich revealed Saturday, a wish that wont be granted. http://www.steelerspronfl.com/Youth-Louis-Lipps-Elite-Jersey/ .C. -- Only two Syracuse teams have won their first 20 games, and C. Benny Snell Jr. Jersey . When the Dallas Mavericks needed to stop a Golden State rally in the fourth quarter, they looked for defensive help from the rookie point guard playing in just his sixth game. L.C. Greenwood Jersey . -- Zach Johnson asked his short-iron approach on the par-4 18th to "Do something right, baby.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs didnt flinch in the face of adversity.For Leodis McKelvin and the Buffalo Bills, they endured a familiar late-game meltdown for a franchise that has had little go its way during a 14-season playoff drought — the NFLs longest active streak.Smith, on an 8-yard run, and Jamaal Charles, on a 39-yard scamper on fourth-and-1, scored less than five minutes apart as the Chiefs overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to pull out a 17-13 win over the bumbling Bills on Sunday.I think there is something to winning these types of games, Smith said. Theres a different type of confidence you get when you win games like this.The Chiefs (6-3) came out on top in a key midseason AFC showdown by improving to 6-1 in their past seven games.It was a different mood altogether in the Buffalos locker room after the Bills (5-4) unraveled coming out of their bye week off. McKelvin had difficulty containing his anger in issuing a series of profanity-laced answers in discussing how his fumble helped cost Buffalo the game.I take this ... to heart, McKelvin said. I fumbled the ball. It hurt us. But we still had a chance to come back and win the game. (Stuff) happens in the game. But youve still got to overcome it.The outcome turned early in the fourth quarter with Buffalo clinging to a 13-10 lead.The Bills defence forced a three-and-out, forcing the Chiefs to punt out of their own end zone.McKelvin fielded Dustin Colquitts punt cleanly at his own 31 and took a few steps to his right. Thats when he was initially hit by Albert Wilson. Anthony Sherman then knocked the ball loose, and recovered the fumble at the Bills 26.Two plays later, Smith faked a handoff to the right to Charles, and then took off left for the go-ahead score with nearly nine minutes left.Theres going to be games like this where everything is not pretty and you have to play through it, and theres a certain toughness that it takes, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. And our guys showed that today.The Chiefs defence showed that in ending any chances of Buffalo manufacturing a comeback after McKelvins 23-yard punt return gave the Bills the ball at Kansas Citys 25 with 4:35 remaining.The drive stalled at the 15, when Kyle Orton thrrew four consecutive incompletions, including an underthrown attempt to Sammy Watkins at the 1 on fourth down.dddddddddddd Defensive back Ron Parker knocked down three Orton attempts, while another sailed through the end zone past Chris Hogan.Orton went 29 of 48 for 259 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown to Hogan. Marcell Dareus had three of Buffalos six sacks.Very little went right for the Bills offence after Orton hit Hogan for a 25-yard touchdown to cap the opening drive. Buffalo then managed two field goals, lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs in four trips inside the Chiefs 20.The lost fumble was crucial in opening the second half. Running back Bryce Brown was three steps from the end zone when he had the ball punched out of his hands by Parker. The ball bounced into the end zone, where tight end Scott Chandler had it go off his fingers and out for a touchback.Its disappointing, its frustrating, all those words, Chandler said. I dont know what to say about it. Weve got to be better.Things dont get any easier for the Bills, who had a two-game win streak snapped and fell to 2-4 against conference rivals. They face a key test in a short week — at division rival Miami on Thursday night.This marked the fourth time during their playoff drought the Bills lost after compiling a 5-3 record. Buffalo hasnt had six or more wins through nine games since 1999, the last time it made the playoffs.The Chiefs, who opened last season at 9-0, find themselves on another roll and in the thick of a jumbled AFC playoff race.Its just crazy how the NFL is going this year, offensive tackle Eric Fisher said. It was a huge AFC game for us. Getting that win, being 6-3, that sounds pretty good.Charles finished with 98 yards rushing, Smith went 17 of 29 for 177 yards and Dwayne Bowe had eight catches for 93 years.NOTES: Chiefs RB Cyrus Gray sustained a torn knee ligament. Reid said TE Demetrius Harris his foot before the game. ... Bills WR Marquise Goodwin did not return after hurting his ribs in fourth quarter. ... Bills RB Fred Jackson was limited to 10 yards rushing and 39 yards receiving in his first game after hurting his groin three week ago.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL ' ' '