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Team Canada crushes Team USA in World Cup tune-up

Ice Hockey - Men's Gold Medal Game - Day 17

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Corey Perry #24 (R) of Canada celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s second goal during the ice hockey men’s gold medal game between USA and Canada on day 17 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at Canada Hockey Place on February 28, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

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John Tavares started the game off by running Ryan Kesler into the boards. The New York Islanders star then went on to score twice and Team Canada was thorough in its 5-2 victory over Team USA in Ottawa on Saturday.

After a chippy, physical -- reckless, at times -- game between the rival hockey nations on Friday, there were moments in the rematch when it looked like emotions could erupt. After what Kesler did to Canadian defenseman Shea Weber the previous night, Tavares wasted no time throwing a hard hit on the American forward on the first shift Saturday.

Joe Thornton targeted Kesler later in the first period with a late hit and was penalized accordingly. Alex Pietrangelo was seen in discomfort, appearing to favor his right arm at times during this game. And a melee broke out at the final buzzer, before players separated.

For all the shenanigans that occurred, the Canadian power play made the U.S. pay.

Canada held the advantage in shots once again, finishing with 38 shots on goal, to 23 for the U.S. (Team USA had 25 hits, compared to 16 for Team Canada.)

Canada also capitalized on three of its eight power play chances, and that was without Sidney Crosby, who was scratched for tonight’s contest in a back-to-back pre-tournament situation.

Team USA goalie Cory Schneider gave up four goals on 24 shots in two periods of work. Three of those goals came within a span of 4:24 in the first period. Now, it will be interesting to see how much influence this result has on John Tortorella’s goaltending decision for the tournament.

Jonathan Quick, who started Friday, didn’t play Saturday. Ben Bishop once again played the final 20 minutes, with one goal allowed on 14 shots.