The United States defeated 5-3 the hosts of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in the final Group A match held at the Canada Hockey Place.
U.S. Brian Rafalski scored the first goal only 41 seconds in the opening period. Canada's Eric Staal drew the score on the ninth minute, but less than 20 seconds later Rafalski was quick enough to score another goal to secure the U.S. advantage of 2-1 after the first period.
The teams scored each a goal in the second period beginning with Dany Heatley, who drew the score to 2-2, and then Chris Drury netted another for his team to leave the Americans in the lead 3-2 after the second period.
The United States greatly disappointed the Canadian fans after Jamie Langenbrunner increased the U.S. lead in the score to 4-2 in the middle of the third period, but hopes returned as Canada's Sidney Crosby netted the puck in the American goal with some three minutes of match time remaining.
However, Ryan Kesler scored an empty-netter 45 seconds before the final buzzer leaving the final score at 5-2 and putting his team in first place of its Group A with a total of 9 points.
After all games played in Group A, Canada is in the second place with 5 points while Switzerland and Norway are in the third and fourth places with three and one points respectively.
MOSCOW, February 22 (RIA Novosti)
