The Czech Republic has beaten Russia 3-0 in the teams' Group A opener in Moscow at the world ice hockey championship.
In the day's other top game, reigning champions Canada beat the United States 5-1 in their Group B game in St. Petersburg.
Elsewhere, Finland, winners in 2011, beat Belarus 6-2 in the day's other Group B game.
In the other Group A game on may 6, Sweden struggled to beat Latvia 2-1.
Group A, whose games will be played in Moscow, consists of Russia, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Latvia, Norway, Denmark, and Kazakhstan.
Group B, which will compete in St. Petersburg, includes Canada, Finland, the United States, Slovakia, Belarus, France, Germany, and Hungary.