HALIFAX - Any team looking to beat Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship should study tape of this game.

Norway entered as a heavy underdog against the unbeaten hosts but found itself with a chance for an upset after clogging the neutral zone and playing a tight-checking game. It wasn't pretty but it kept the Canadians at bay until Rick Nash made an incredible solo effort late to pull out the win.

You could almost hear the collective exhale from an edgy Metro Centre crowd after Nash beat a defender and slid the winning goal around Norway's Pal Grotnes with 3:58 to play.

"We knew what we were in for," Nash said after the 2-1 win on Thursday. "We didn't expect it to be that close but I think it's a good team-building game for us."

Norway was already already the surprise team of the tournament after earning a point for an overtime