Canada, USA cruise to easy wins at worlds

Canada swept Latvia and the USA breezed past Finland in the opening games of the ice hockey world championships on Friday.

Sweden then beat the Czech Republic in a penalty shoot-out while defending champions Russia eased past Norway.

In Group A in Prague, Dallas forward Jason Spezza scored twice and added an assist while Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists to hand Canada a 6-1 win over underdogs Latvia as the winners outshot their rivals 42-17.

MacKinnon opened the score ten minutes into the game before Spezza and Matt Duchene made it 3-0 on 14 minutes.

Tyler Toffoli and Spezza scored within a minute early into the second period and Canada's top star Sidney Crosby converted a penalty shot half a minute before the end to round off the score after Latvia's Kaspars Daugavins scored a late consolation goal for Latvia.

The 19-year-old MacKinnon praised cooperation with Crosby and Spezza as the three combined for eight points.

"They make it really easy for me to play out there," MacKinnon said.

"Obviously they're both very talented playmakers and they always have their heads up, looking for the open guys. So it's definitely a lot of fun."

Olympic champions Canada are vying for the first medal from world championships since 2009 with their last title coming in 2007.

Friday's second game in Prague turned into a thriller as Sweden overpowered the Czech Republic in a penalty shoot-out after a see-saw third period.

Sweden took a quick 2-0 lead with goals from Joel Lundqvist and Staffan Kronwall.

The Czechs came within a goal in the first period after 43-year-old Florida Panthers veteran Jaromir Jagr scored on a power play, but Sweden made it 3-1 through Victor Rask before the second intermission.

Tomas Hertl brought the Czechs closer early in the final period with another power play goal, but Joakim Lindstrom earned Sweden a two-goal lead again.

The Czechs never gave up and turned the game over with three goals within five minutes, scored by Dominik Simon, Roman Cervenka and Martin Zatovic.

But Sweden came level at 5-5 as Mattias Sjogren scored 54 seconds before the end.

Arizona defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson converted the decisive penalty in a shoot-out for Sweden.

In Group B in the eastern Czech city of Ostrava, the USA eased past Finland 5-1 courtesy of two goals and an assist by Edmonton forward Matt Hendricks, despite losing 27-30 on shots.

Steve Moses scored the first goal just before the first intermission.

Finnish defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka of Dallas fame made it 1-1 in the 26th minute, but the US gained the upper hand again as Hendricks and Dan Sexton scored in the second period.

Nick Bonino and Hendricks scored in the third period to hand the USA a clear win backed by goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who plays in the American Hockey League.

"Connor made a lot of key saves for us to keep the game where it was and we later we capitalized on our chances," said Hendricks.

Russia then beat Norway 6-2 after taking a 4-0 lead in the first period with goals from Vadim Shipachyov, Artyom Anisimov, Danis Zaripov and Viktor Tikhonov.

Patrick Thoresen scored twice for Norway early into the second period, but Maxim Chudinov and Artemi Panarin extended Russia's lead before the second intermission.
Source: AFP