VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Jarome Iginla opened the floodgates with a second-period goal Tuesday and Canada began its quest for Olympic gold by blasting Norway 8-0.
After being shut out of the medals in Turin four years ago, Canada is under pressure to do well in its national sport at these Games and that pressure mounted for a while Tuesday.
Norway held Canada without a score in the first period, but Iginla tallied 2:30 into the second and the goals were soon coming in bunches. Iginla finished with a hat trick and Canada scored five times in the third period.
Canada and Norway are a part of Group A, one of three four-team groups in the Olympics.
In the other Group A game played Tuesday, the United States defeated Switzerland 3-1 thanks to a solid goaltending job by Ryan Miller. Miller, goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres, stopped 14-of-15 shots to give the United States a solid start.
Team USA will next play Thursday against Norway.
"You have nerves and you are anxious to get going," Miller said. "I did my part and the other guys did their job and we won the game. We are going to have to clean up a few things. We are going to have to dominate some teams."
Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks gave the United States the lead with 61 seconds left in the first period when he collected a missed clearing try and rifled a slap shot past Jonas Hiller. Hiller and Ryan are teammates in Anaheim.
David Backes of the St. Louis Blues scored 5:52 into the second period, and Ryan Malone of the Tampa Bay Lightning produced a goal during a goalmouth scramble midway through the stanza.
Switzerland's score came from Roman Wick with 10:15 remaining in the third.
The United States finished eighth in the 2006 Olympic tournament with a record of 1-4-1.
