Prague--Canada swept Latvia and the USA breezed past Finland in the opening games of the ice hockey world championships on Friday.
Sweden then beat the Czech Republic in a penalty shoot-out while defending champions Russia eased past Norway.
In Group A in Prague, Dallas forward Jason Spezza scored twice and added an assist while Colorado forward Nathan MacKinnon had a goal and two assists to hand Canada a 6-1 win over underdogs Latvia as the winners outshot their rivals 42-17.
MacKinnon opened the score ten minutes into the game before Spezza and Matt Duchene made it 3-0 on 14 minutes.
Tyler Toffoli and Spezza scored within a minute early into the second period and Canada's top star Sidney Crosby converted a penalty shot half a minute before the end to round off the score after Latvia's Kaspars Daugavins scored a late consolation goal for Latvia.
The 19-year-old MacKinnon praised cooperation with Crosby and Spezza as the three combined for eight points.
"They make it really easy for me to play out there," MacKinnon said.
"Obviously they're both very talented playmakers and they always have their heads up, looking for the open guys. So it's definitely a lot of fun."
Olympic champions Canada are vying for the first medal from world championships since 2009 with their last title coming in 2007.
AFP
