Carter's hat trick lifts Canada

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - Far from dominating in its Winter Olympics opener, Canada got things rolling on Friday against Austria.

Jeff Carter notched a natural hat trick in the second period and Roberto Luongo posted a 23-save shutout in his first appearance in Sochi as Canada rolled past Austria 6-0.

Defenseman Drew Doughty and Shea Weber had first-period goals before Carter's three-goal barrage that spanned just under 12 minutes in the middle frame. Patrick Marleau assisted on all three of Carter's goals and Ryan Getzlaf added a short-handed tally for the defending Olympic champions.

Luongo got the start on Friday, one day after Carey Price posted 19 saves in a 3-1 win over Norway to get Canada started. Doughty and Weber also scored in that victory.

Bernhard Starkbaum got the start for Austria, which was coming off an 8-4 loss to Finland, and yielded all six goals on 31 shots faced through two periods. Mathias Lange relieved him to start the third and stopped all 15 shots fired his way.

Canada will next face Finland on Sunday in a battle of the 2-0 clubs in Group B. Finland on Friday topped Norway, which next faces Austria.

Doughty scored 5:24 into the contest off a draw, flicking a low shot from the right point over the pad of Starkbaum, and Weber followed with 9:48 to go in the period on a slap shot off a drop pass from Corey Perry.

Carter took over in the second period from in close. His first goal came on a whack in the crease 2:39 into the frame and he followed with a wrap-around score just a minute and a half later.

The Los Angeles Kings forward finished off the hat trick with 5:27 on the clock as Marleau banged at a rebound in front before Carter swooped in and lifted the puck into an open net.

Just 17 seconds later, Perry was wrapped up from behind and awarded a penalty shot, but his snap shot went right into the glove of Starkbaum.

Getzlaf finished off the scoring with Jaime Benn serving a four-minute high- sticking penalty. The forward scored a beauty, toe-dragging into the slot before backhanding the puck in.