Music: {allcanada} Canada edges Norway at hockey worlds

Saturday, May 7, 2011

{allcanada} Canada edges Norway at hockey worlds

Canada's newly formed top line came alive Saturday to keep the country's unbeaten run going at the IIHF World Hockey Championship.

Jason Spezza and James Neal each scored with assists from Rick Nash as Canada edged Norway 3-2.

The trio was first put together during the third period of Friday's shootout win over the U.S. and seems to have found some quick chemistry.

John Tavares had the other goal for Canada (5-0).

Ken Andre Olimb and Marius Holtet replied for Norway (3-2).

The Canadians are heading into the stretch run at the tournament. After wrapping up the round robin against Sweden on Monday, the team travels to Bratislava for the medal round.

It received a bit of a scare from the plucky Norwegians, who scored goals 1:13 apart in the third period after Neal had put Canada ahead 3-0. But they weren't able to pull of the upset.

The Norwegians brought just one NHL player here — defenceman Jonas Holos is fresh off his rookie season with the Colorado Avalanche — but have proven to be a very tough opponent. They put on a shot-blocking clinic during upset wins over Sweden and Switzerland and repeatedly threw themselves in front of pucks again.

However, they failed to generate much offensively until Canada built a big lead.

Spezza scored for the second time in as many games since being elevated to the top line at 15:26 of the first. Nash found him open at the top of the crease and he wasted no time firing it past Lars Haugen.

Tavares stretched the lead to 2-0 just after the midway point of the second with a highlight-reel move. He split the Norwegian defence and fought off a couple hooks before scoring his fourth goal of the tournament.

Neal's goal came on a nice wrist shot and came after he was stopped on two breakaways.

Jonathan Bernier made his first start of the tournament for Canada and didn't see much action until the third. Olimb ended his shutout bid at 11:36 before Holtet beat him at 12:49 with a long shot that appeared to hit Canadian defenceman Carlo Colaiacovo.

That brought Steel Arena alive, but the Norwegian rally fell short.