USA beats Canada

VANCOUVER (WIVB) - Some fans paid $5000 a ticket.  It was worth it.  The Americans and Canadians played a classic Olympic hockey game Sunday night, with the USA winning 5-3.

Brian Rafalski scored two goals, and Ryan Miller made 42 saves.  Team USA improves to 3-0 in the Olympics and earns a bye into the quarterfinal round.

"We did a good job keeping perimeter.  My job is to stay consistent and keep it simple," Miller told NBC Sports.

The game featured frantic end-to-end play, high intensity and a near Canadian comeback. 

Chris Drury broke a 2-2 tie with a late second period goal.  Then in the third, Jamie Langenbrunner scored to put the USA up by two.  But Sidney Crosby's power play goal with 3:09 left turned up the heat.  Miller made a number of big saves, before Ryan Kesler's empty net goal allowed the Americans to relax.

Rafalski had a three point night.  Langenbrunner and Ryan Suter each had two points.  Canada got goals from Crosby, Dany Heatley and Eric Staal.

The Americans now don't play until Wednesday.  Canada will have to play a qualification game on Tuesday.