Former champions the United States returned to the final of the United Cup mixed team tournament with a fortuitous victory over the Czech Republic on Saturday and set up a title clash with Poland, who hammered Kazakhstan.

Mario Ferraro produced a fight and the game-winning goal, Marc-Edouard Vlasic notched a point in his season debut and the San Jose Sharks broke an eight-game losing streak by edging the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 on Thursday.

Iga Swiatek powers Poland past Kazakhstan while Czech player Tomas Machac retires when leading as the United States also reach the United Cup final.