Brian Rafalski scored two late goals consecutively as the United States pounded Norway 6-1 in men’s Olympic hockey on Thursday.

Rafalski’s goals both came with the game well in hand in the final three minutes. The first one came on a power play with a one-timed blast from the slot, while the second was another one-timer, this one from the centre of the blue-line.

Phil Kessel started the scoring for the United States (2-0) a little more than two minutes into the game with a blistering wrist shot that rattled off the top right post and into the net.

At 13:04 in the opening period Chris Drury followed up with a goal that went in off of a rebound right in front of the net after a David Callahan shot.

Close to within six minutes into the second period, Patrick Kane made the score 3-0 for the United States, burying the puck past an out of position Paal Grotnes.

The American’s fourth goal came from Ryan Malone at 14:19 in the third period by batting the puck out of the air after a shot by Jack Johnson rebounded off the Norwegian backstop.

Five American players recorded two points, while seven more had one, including goaltender Ryan Miller who assisted on the Malone score.

Before the Malone goal, Norway (0-2) had been able to close the gap to 3-1 at 8:37 in the second period with a short-handed goal by Marius Holtet on a two-on-one break, beating Miller with a shot over his right shoulder.

The goal was the first for Norway in men’s Olympic hockey since the 1994 Games in Lilehammer, the last time they played hockey in the Games.

Two-on-one breaks became a theme for the Americans during the course of the game. A weak back check lead to five odd-man rushes for Norway.

Miller was able to neutralize these mistakes, making 10 saves. Even though he did not see a lot of shots come his way, only 11, almost all of those shots were quality chances, forcing the American net minder to come up big many times during the game.

On the other hand, Grotnes was assaulted the entire game, stopping 33 shots of the 39 he saw.

Neither team was very effective on the power play, the United States finished 1-for-5, while Norway was 0-for-2.

The U.S. will play Canada next in a game many believe will decide Group A’s winner on February 21 at 4:20 PM PST.

Norway’s next contest will be against Switzerland on February 20 at 12:00 PM PST.

All eyes in the Air Canada Centre were on Phil Kessel as he made his Toronto Maple Leafs debut on Tuesday night.

But the sniper and his new teammates had a tough time solving Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Antero Niittymaki.

Ryan Malone scored the game winner 2:21 into overtime as the Lightning defeated the Leafs 2-1.

Vincent Lecavalier also scored for Tampa Bay and Ian White netted Toronto’s lone goal.

The win marked Tampa Bay’s (5-4-4) first on the road, while Toronto (1-7-5) remains winless at home with an 0-4-2 record.

Toronto has lost in extra time in each of its last four games, but has picked up at least a point in each of the last five. 

Jonas Gustavsson had the start and made 29 saves for the Leafs while Niittymaki started for Tampa Bay and stopped 40 shots.

Kessel led all Toronto forwards with 23:50 total ice time and registered a career high 10 shots on goal. But he couldn’t find the net.

OT winner disputed

Malone scored the winner on a play that went under review, collecting a rebound and knocking Gustavsson down on the second attempt before the puck went into the net.

The NHL video reviewer decided the puck crossed the line before the net came off its moorings.

Leafs were down 1-0 when White tied the game at 5:04 of the third with a wrist shot that deflected off Lightning defender Matt Walker and beat Niittymaki on the powerplay.

Gustavsson had trouble controlling his rebounds all game long and Lecavalier took advantage of that near the end of the second.

The Swedish goalie turned the puck over to Mattias Ohlund and stopped a slapshot from the right face off circle, but left a big rebound for Lecavalier, who scored at 18:34, giving the Lightning a 1-0 lead.

With that goal, Toronto opponents have now scored first in 12 out of 13 games.

Niklas Hagman had a good scoring chance in the dying seconds of a powerplay with nine minutes to go in the second period. He was on a breakaway, but couldn’t get full control of the puck to fire a shot on goal.

Toronto had another strong chance with a few minutes to go in the second thanks to Kessel. The 22-year old exploded into the Lightning’s zone and fired a wrister over the crossbar.

He regained control of the puck and Niittymaki stopped his shot from the point.

Niittymaki kept the Lightning in the game by stopping 19 second-period shots and 29 through 40 minutes.

Just 13 minutes into the first period, Kessel skated into Tampa Bay’s zone with his head down and took a big hit from Ohlund.

He gave Leafs fans a scare when he went to the Leafs dressing room but returned a minute later.

Kessel was on the ice for a Leafs powerplay with four minutes to go in the first and fired a wrist shot at Niittymaki, but the goalie made a glove save despite being screened by two players.