Host Latvia beats Canada 2-0 in world hockey opener

RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Matiss Kivlenieks made 38 saves and host Latvia beat Canada 2-0 on Friday in their world hockey opener. Miks Indrasis opened the scoring with 1.5 seconds left in the first period, beating goaltender Darcy Kuemper between the pads. Oskars Batna made it 2-0 on a tip-in midway through the second period. Latvia beat Canada for the first time in 12 meetings in the tournament. Canada will face the United States on Sunday. The United States will open Group B play Saturday against Finland. In the other Group B game Friday, Marcel Noebels scored twice to help Germany rout Italy 9-4. In Group A, Mikhail Grigorenko scored with 19 seconds left to give Russia a 4-3 victory over the Czech Republic, and Slovakia beat Belarus 5-2.