Julien Gauthier scored twice in the third period to ensure the home nation’s victory at the Centre Bell sports complex in Montreal.

David Kase had put Czech Republic into a 1-0 lead going into the second period, where Blake Speers and Mitchell Stephens helped Canada turn the game on its head by the 28th minute.

Tomas Soustal soon restored parity before Thomas Chabot put Canada back in front in the 34th minute.

Gauthier’s first goal made it 4-2, and after Simon Stransky pulled one back for Czech Republic, the Canadian put the game to bed with his second in the 47th minute.

"In the first period we were panicking a little bit, but in the end, I think it’s a big win for us," said Gauthier.

Awaiting Canada in the semi-finals is Sweden who earlier maintained their unbeaten record at the Championships with an 8-3 win over Slovakia.

The 2012 champions were 5-0 up by the 34th minute thanks to goals from captain Joel Eriksson Ek, Tim Soderlund, Carl Grundstrom, Alexander Nylander and Fredrik Karlstrom.

Slovakia then threatened a comeback with Martin Bodak, Miroslav Struska and Adam Ruzicka all getting on the scoresheet to make it 5-3, but further goals for Sweden from Soderlund, Lias Andersson and Eriksson Ek ended their hopes.

The semi-final between Canada and Sweden is scheduled to take place at the Centre Bell sports complex on Wednesday (January 4).

It will be preceded by the United States’ clash with Russia after both nations advanced through to the last four with wins at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto today.

The US were made to work harder for their victory, beating Switzerland 3-2 courtesy of a Jordan Greenway power-play goal midway through the third period.

Jeremy Bracco and Luke Kunin had given the Americans a 2-0 lead at the end of the first period before Nico Hischier scored in the second and third to bring Switzerland back on level terms.

In the dying minutes, Hischier had a great chance to tie the game again but American goaltender Tyler Parsons snapped his glove out and denied the Swiss star.

"I have to make those big saves when the team needs it," Parsons said.

"That's what I focus on.

"There was a deflection, and I followed the puck back over."

Russia, meanwhile, were more comfortable in victory as they overcame Denmark 4-0.

Alexander Polunin and Kirill Kaprizov both scored in the first period and the win was sealed in the third with a goal from Pavel Karnaukhov and another for Kaprizov.

The semi-final between the US and Russia is a repeat of one of last year’s last-four encounters, which the latter won 2-1 before going on to lose to Finland in the final.

Finland became the first-ever defending champions to have fallen into the relegation round after finishing bottom of Group A in Canada.

They began their best-of-three relegation-round series with Latvia by winning 2-1 at the Centre Bell sports complex today. 

Vili Saarijarvi and Kristian Vesalainen scored either side of Maksims Ponomarenko’s equaliser for Latvia.

The relegation-round series is due to continue tomorrow at the same venue.