MINSK, Belarus -- From a disallowed goal to a penalty kill in the final minutes, Team Canada didnt enjoy a lot of easy moments in beating Norway 3-2. But thats exactly how coach Dave Tippett wanted it, as his team got the regulation victory it needed Tuesday to finish first in Group A at the world hockey championship. "We played well, and I like that we got pushed right to the end," Tippett said. "If it wouldve been a 5-1 or 6-1 game, maybe you get into bad habits, you just kind of float through it. This pushed us as a team, and the harder you get pushed as a team the better you get in a short amount of time. I like the fact that we won the game, obviously, but I like the fact that it was a close game." It was close because Norway took the lead, and then Canada had a would-be goal by Kevin Bieksa waved off for goaltender interference because Jonathan Huberdeau had his stick in the crease. And it remained close even after Joel Ward scored the second of his two goals, the eventual game winner, midway through the third because Norway didnt go away. Canada outshot Norway 42-16 and only beat goaltender Steffen Soberg three times, on Wards two on the power play and Mark Scheifeles at even strength. Meanwhile, James Reimer gave up goals to Anders Bastiansen and Mads Hansen that came about from defensive miscues but still improved to 3-0-1 in the tournament. "This is one of those games where you really just have to grind it out and battle because they protect so well, they collapse so well, and sometimes you just pass the puck around the outside but you cant really get to the good scoring areas," Reimer said. "I think were just happy to grind this one out." Canada, which finished the preliminary round with 18 points and a 6-0-1 record, will face Finland in Group B in the quarter-final round Thursday. Along the way, the Canadians outscored opponents 28-13, and their only blemish was a shootout loss to France. Tippett seemed pleased with his teams progression to this point. "Most of our players didnt play for three weeks and as you get back into game shape, your game starts to elevate," he said. "Every game our players continue to pick up a step." Finishing first in the group assured Canada of avoiding powerhouse Russia until a potential gold-medal game Sunday. The United States, led by Tyler Johnson and Seth Jones, could wind up on Canadas side of the bracket, pending the result of Russia-Belarus on Tuesday night. The chance to pass Sweden for first place almost slipped away Tuesday against Norway at Chizhovka-Arena. Canada fell behind on a power-play goal by Bastiansen and then had to overcome some frustration later in the first. It looked like Bieksa scored a power-play goal at the 15:01 mark, but it was waved off apparently because Huberdeau had his stick in the crease. Tippett said the referee wouldnt come over to explain the decision, which seemed to stem from the IIHF rule that an attacking player cannot have even his stick blade in the crease when the puck goes into the net. "I didnt think my skate was in the crease. I guess it was the stick," Huberdeau said. "I dont know the call, but it was the call and you cant do anything. Its not a big deal." It wouldve been a much bigger deal had it cost Canada the chance to win in regulation. But with seven power plays, including five after Bieksas goal was disallowed, there were plenty of opportunities to keep it from being the reason for a loss. "We were not going to let one call ruin the whole day for us," said Ward, who now has six goals and is tied with teammate Cody Hodgson and Frances Antoine Roussel for second in the tournament behind Russias Viktor Tikhonov. Canada managed to grind away at Norway enough, and Tippett had special praise for the fourth line of Ward, Scheifele and Sean Monahan. "We had lots of opportunities, but (the Norwegians) kept the game very tight," Tippett said. "They did a good job penalty-killing against us, and I was proud of our guys to just keep pushing, not get frustrated and hopefully wed find the chances we needed to win." Once they did, the Canadians could start to look ahead to elimination play. "Get some playoffs going here," Reimer said. "To get going to the quarter-finals here, I think were jelling well as a team. We have some good chemistry. Hopefully things bode well in the playoffs." NOTES -- Alex Burrows missed his second straight game with a charley horse suffered in a knee-on-knee hit Friday against Italy. Tippett said he skated each of the past two days, would practise with the team the next time it was on the ice and would be ready to play in Thursdays quarter-final game. ... Reimer approached Soberg, who made 39 saves on 42 shots, after the game to ask why he wasnt playing in the NHL. Soberg was a 2011 fourth-round pick of the Washington Capitals and refused to come to North America to play for the WHLs Swift Current Broncos, opting instead to continue playing in Norway. The Capitals lost Sobergs rights last summer, making him an NHL free agent. Wholesale Shoes For Sale .S. Basketball Writers Association. McDermott, who finished his career at Creighton as college basketballs fifth-leading scorer, accepted the honour from Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson at AT&T Stadium, site of the Final Four. Wholesale Shoes From China . Al Horford said all he had to do was make the catch near the basket and then shoot a soft jumper. https://www.wholesaleshoesforcheap.com/.com) - A pair of Eastern Conference rivals will meet on Saturday as D. Wholesale Shoes Cheap . Unfortunately for the Cleveland Cavaliers, James Harden was in the building. Wholesale Shoes Website . As future stars prepare to make the big leap to the professional ranks, TSNs Draft Week delivers wall-to-wall coverage of both the NHL and NBA Entry Drafts, highlighted by exclusive live coverage of both events.I like alliteration. Its very radio friendly, perhaps not so much in print. It was the Ms that dominated the story-lines on what was a memorable weekend for the Whitecaps. Marketing: The Whitecaps should win an award for one of the best sporting campaigns this city has ever seen. Sometimes, consumers buy in early, and drive an event which then takes on a life of its own. And sometimes, a gentle nudge from creative types can spark the consumers imagination. What happened on Saturday was a perfect combination of both, punctuated by a thrilling, talking point laden 3-2 win. The level of detail and commitment by everyone involved, made for a day most of us wont soon forget. Manneh: The youngster started, and rewarded his manager with a terrific opening goal just 10 minutes in, which got the crowd involved, and the adrenaline pumping. I cant remember seeing the same player hit one post, before coolly floating in the rebound off the other upright. It was exactly what the Whitecaps needed. Morales: The refreshed looking midfield maestro ran the show in the first 45, scored from the penalty spot, and then less than a minute later added his third MLS goal with a perfect blast. He might have had two others earlier. It was the unbridled passion with which he celebrated the 3-0 goal that Whitecaps supporters will remember. He likes it here. He wants to win. Hes worth the price of admission. Mattocks: The young Jamaican has been arguably the most important player for Vancouver this season, when itt seemed like six months ago, he would be run out of town after some bizarre comments made while he was home.dddddddddddd. Hes embraced the coaching, his level of understanding has improved and his ability to terrorize defenders was plainly evident, as he earned another penalty kick on a rather immobile looking Victor Bernardez. So it should worry everyone in the Village that Mattocks had to be replaced early with what was described as a hamstring strain. The timing couldnt be worse given the schedule congestion thats ahead, and with the departure of another "M". Miller: We knew divorce was imminent, but most didnt expect the news on Sunday morning, especially after the Mattocks injury. Carl Robinson is trying to shape a young and hungry club, and while there does need to be some veteran guidance, the money versus performance return gap was widening, and becoming more difficult to justify. I also get the sense that the club wants to conduct more business, and that will be easier to accomplish with the budget relief theyll now have. Miller was a great pro, looked up to by his teammates and likely to land at least one more contract before his storied career is over. And if you turn an "M" upside down, it becomes a "W" something the Whitecaps desperately needed. With their "hang-on-for-dear-life" 3-2 triumph over San Jose, Vancouver went from being winless in four, to undefeated in three. A great start to the month of "M"ay. ' ' '