Miller shines on hockey-fueled 'Super Sunday'

American dominance of the Olympic pistes continued with Bode Miller surging to the men's super-combined gold on a hockey-fueled Sunday that kicked off with Russia beating the Czechs.

Miller came home ahead of Croatian Ivica Kostelic and Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland in a combined total over a downhill and slalom of 2min 44.92sec for the United States' eighth medal out of a possible 18 from six alpine disciplines so far.

"I can't ask for anything more," said Miller, the reformed bad boy of skiing, who last week won super-G silver and downhill bronze.

Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal, the reigning world super-combined champion, led after the downhill portion but skied out of the slalom in sight of the finish line, while American reigning Olympic champion Ted Ligety came fifth.

There was more disappointment for Austria, whose men failed to medal in the alpine speed disciplines, with pre-race favourite Benjamin Raich ending sixth.

But it is hockey that has Canadians excited, with big crowds in party mood swarming downtown Vancouver.

They are fired up for the host nation's showdown with the United States on what has been billed as 'Super Sunday'.

The puck dropped with Russia beating the Czech Republic 4-2 as Evgeni Malkin scored two goals and Alex Ovechkin had two assists and a bone-crushing hit on Jaromir Jagr early in the third period that forced a turnover at centre ice.

It helped set up Malkin's second goal to lead Russia to victory.

"Of course it is a big win," Malkin said. "It was a great hit and that was a great moment for the Olympic Games."

Also playing Sunday are Sweden and Finland, with the outcomes determining which four teams earn byes into the playoff quarter-finals.

"Every TV set in Canada is going to be tuned in. This is going to be unbelievable," said US coach Ron Wilson.

Olympic figure skaters, meanwhile, rallied around devastated Canadian champion Joannie Rochette after her mother died just two days before she is just due to compete.

Many learnt the news of 55-year-old Therese Rochette's death from a heart attack after leaving their practise session on the rink at the Pacific Coliseum.

"I just hope that she can get through this quickly and get back into competition," said South Korean star Kim Yu-Na, the gold medal favourite and world champion.

In the women's 12.5km mass start biathlon, German pin-up Magdalena Neuner won for her third medal of the Games to go with the gold she captured in the pursuit and silver in the sprint.

"It is a surprise for me (to have three medals), but I know what I can do and I believe in myself, I have three now and it is unbelievable for me," she said.

An unbelieving Evgeny Ustyugov realised a long held dream by winning gold for Russia in the men's 15km sprint.

The exciting sport of ski cross made its Olympic bow with Switzerland's Michael Schmid landing the inaugural gold in an event that pits four racers against each other down a motocross-style course.

Austria's Andreas Matt took silver and Norway's Audun Groenvold the bronze.

At Richmond Oval, Dutchwoman Ireen Wust took the women's 1500m speedskating honours ahead of Canada's Kristina Groves and Martina Sablikova of the Czech Republic.

One more title will be decided Sunday with Germany 1 pilot Andre Lange on course for a fourth Olympic gold in the two-man bobsleigh.

With brakeman Kevin Kuske, he heads into the final on the treacherous Whistler Sliding Centre track in pole position.