Canada loses opener at World Juniors

Goals by Louis Belpedio and Auston Matthews in a 41-second span late in the third period to give the United States a 4-2 victory over Canada 4-2 in the first round-robin game for both at the world junior hockey championship.

Belpedio, a defenceman from Miami of Ohio, broke a tie with 3:18 left with Matthews, the projected number one pick in the 2016 draft, completing the scoring with 2:37 to go. He plays for

Matt Barzal and Dylan Strome scored for defending champion Canada, and Mason McDonald made 21 saves.

In the other Group A game, Dmytro Timashov had two goals and an assist in Sweden's 8-3 victory over Switzerland 8-3. That game saw Toronto Maple Leafs prospect William Nylander leave early after taking a head shot from a Swiss player who received a 5 minute major and a game misconduct

In Group B, Russia edged the Czech Republic 2-1 in a shootout, and Finland routed Belarus 6-0.