Canada opens up with 3-1 win over Norway

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - Canada may still be one of the favorites for hockey gold, but it was not a dominating start for the defending Olympic champions.

Shea Weber, Jamie Benn and Drew Doughty scored to lift the Canadians to a 3-1 win over Norway on Thursday.

Doughty also notched an assist and Carey Price made 19 saves in the victory. Patrice Bergeron assisted on a pair of goals for the winners.

Patrick Thoresen scored the only goal for Norway, which managed to keep it close despite being outshot 38-20. Lars Haugen stopped 35 shots in defeat.

After a scoreless first period, Canada dominated the second. The Norwegians managed just two shots on goal, while the Canadians scored twice.

Canada finally found the back of the net at the 6:20 mark of the second on Weber's blast from the left point. Benn converted a right-circle pass from Bergeron to make it 2-0 with 4:41 to play in the period.

Norway trimmed the deficit in half on a power play in the first minute of the third. Price went behind the net to play the puck and lost it. Mathis Olimb skated out into the right circle and snapped a shot that was deflected home by Thoresen.

The Canadians wasted little time in restoring a two-goal edge, as Doughty scored on a backhander from the slot just 1:25 later to make it 3-1.

Canada was unable to find the net again and Price turned aside all 10 shots he faced in the third to seal it.

The Canadians are back on the ice Friday against Austria, while Norway is also back in action against Finland.