Canada men's hockey team defeat Norway 3-1

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- Canada's men's team held on Thursday to win its opening Olympic hockey matchup 3-1 over Norway in Sochi's Bolshoy Ice Dome.

Most fans and pundits expected the Norwegians to provide little resistance to the defending gold medalists, but Canada labored through the first period. And even though the Canadians outshot their opposition handedly in the 2nd taking a 2-0 lead, a goal from Norwegian Patrick Thoresen kept things interesting.

Only a late goal from Canadian Drew Doughty killed thoughts of an upset. Canadians Shea Weber and Jamie Benn provided the first two.

Team Canada Coach Mike Babcock shuffled his lines early and often as his team struggled to find rhythm.

"I don’t like to waste time, but our game plan is really simple," Babcock told reporters before the game. "We’ve got to get everyone on it, simple, so they don’t think. We don’t want them thinking; we want them playing.”

The Canadians face Austria on Friday.

[Detroit Free Press]