on Ticketmaster's web site. The Americans know they are in for a hostile reception from the ACC crowd.

"It's a game you grow up watching, that New Year's Eve game," U.S. defenceman Charlie McAvoy said after his team won its first game against Russia at this tournament since 2007. "To have it in Canada here, you grow up seeing that, we're not going to be liked that's for sure. We're not expecting much love, it's going to be us against kind of their whole country."

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While the final score showed there was little doubt in the difference between Canada and Latvia, the Canadians showed they were looking ahead to the U.S. in the early going. The Latvians outworked them through most of the first period, taking alack of focus and preparation were the knocks against Hart coming into the tournament and his play against the Latvians left those questions still dangling.

With Canada up 8-1 late in the second period, Hart allowed a soft shorthanded goal to Latvia's Renars Krastenbergs when he whiffed on a wrist shot. Granted, by that point with Canada scoring five goals in the second period it was hard for any goalie to stay awake, but this was no time for someone trying to nail down a position to waver.

But Canadian head coach Dominique Ducharme declined to tip his hand on a starting goaltender for the U.S. game.

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"With the penalties we took [in the first period] he was solid in there," Ducharme said of Hart. "I thought he