HOCKEY : SAKIC'S LATE SCORE HELPS CANADA DEFEAT RUSSIA.

Byline: Associated Press 

Stanley Cup MVP Joe Sakic scored 52 seconds into the third period to break a tie and Russia had a goal disallowed with less than two minutes remaining Thursday night as Canada won 5-3 in the World Cup of Hockey.

Russia tied it 3-3 with two second-period goals in the tournament opener for both teams. But Darius Kasparaitis was called for hooking 41 seconds into the third period, and Sakic scored 11 seconds later by converting a rebound.

Russia had two goals disallowed, including Sergei Nemchinov's apparent tying goal with 1:41 remaining. But the Russians were penalized instead when it was determined they had too many men on the ice.

Theo Fleury added an insurance power-play goal with 20 seconds to play.

Vincent Damphousse scored a short-handed goal for Canada, Eric Desjardins a power-play goal and Brendan Shanahan added the only even-strength goal.

The Russians got goals by Alexei Kovalev, Vladimir Malakhov and Sergei Fedorov before a sellout crowd of 18,422 at GM Place.

Canada took 35 shots at Russian goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin, while Canadian goaltender Curtis Joseph faced 29.

Kovalev gave Russia 1-0 lead 2:18 into the game, but Damphousse, Desjardins and Shanahan scored in the first period.

The Russians regrouped between periods and opened the second with goals by Malakhov and Fedorov in a span of 39 seconds - at 2:57 and 3:36.