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Finland claim top spot from Czechs
 Mikko Luoma, left, fights for the puck with Czech Jan Hlavac. RIGA, Latvia -- Petteri Nummelin scored with 72 seconds left as Finland fought back to draw 3-3 with the Czech Republic and clinch top spot in Group A at the world championships on Tuesday. With both teams already through to the second round, the Finns twice recovered from two goals down against the champions to finish the preliminary stage with five points after beating Latvia and Slovenia in their first two games. Martin Erat and Jaroslav Balastik scored 24 seconds apart less than three minutes into the game to give the Czechs a 2-0 lead. Lasse Kukkonen then cut the deficit in half with a powerplay marker at 8:19 but Jan Hlavac restored a two-goal margin with an even-strength goal midway through the second period. Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Aki-Petteri Berg again brought the Olympic silver medallists within one with a powerplay goal just 30 seconds into the final period to set the stage for Finland's heroics. With time running out, Nummelin beat Milan Hnilicka with a low shot from the blueline as the Czech netminder was screened on the play. The Czechs finished in second place with four points from three games after a 1-1 draw with Latvia and a 5-4 win over Slovenia. Hosts Latvia also reached the second round after coming from behind with four second-period goals to beat Slovenia 5-1 in the earlier Group A game. Canada cheerThe 2002 Olympic champions Canada came from a goal down to maintain a 100-percent record, clinching a 2-1 win over the United States, their third win in the preliminary Group D. The North American neighbors have both already assured themselves of a place in the qualifying round and were just battling for pride. Phil Kessel put the United States into the lead sweeping home a rebound from close range with 6:07 remaining before the first interval. Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crossby pulled the game level 9:01 into the second sending the puck in with a backhand shot despite tough physical opposition of a US defender to clinch the lead in the goal scorers contest with his fourth goal of the tournament. Canada's winning goal came from Detroit Red Wings marksman Brandan Shanahan, who sent in a rebound from just outside the crease with a backhand 7:44 into the third period on powerplay. Meanwhile, in the other Group D match Norway won the Scandinavian derby beating Denmark 6-3 and consigning the Dames to the relegation round. 
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