Top Story: Men's Hockey Defeats Canada 5-3

USOC February 21, 2010

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Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Patrick Kane #88 of the United States controls the puck against Jarome Iginla #12 of Canada during the ice hockey men's preliminary game between Canada and USA on day 10 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Canada Hockey Place on February 21, 2010 in

Powered by two goals from Brian Rafalski (Dearborn, Mich.) and the stonewall play of goalkeeper Ryan Miller (East Lansing, Mich.), the US men's ice hockey team defeated Canada 5-3 at Canada Hockey Place Sunday evening.

Rafalski scored the first two US goals to give them a 2-1 lead at the first intermission. After trading goals in the second period, the US opened up a 4-2 margin on a Jamie Langenbrunner (Cloquet, Minn.) power play goal 7:09 into the third period. Sidney Crosby answered with a power play goal of his own at 16:51, but the door was slammed shut when Ryan Kesler (Livonia, Mich.) scored an empty net goal with 45 seconds remaining. Miller was solid in the net, recording 42 saves for the US as the Canadians outshot the Americans 45-23.

The victory gives the US a 3-0 record and the top spot in Group A, earning a bye in the tournament's quarterfinals.

Tags: Brian Rafalski, Jamie Langenbrunner, Ryan Miller, Ryan Kesler, USA Hockey, Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games