HALIFAX – Team USA rebounded this afternoon to beat Norway 9-1 in their final game of the Qualifying Round. There were no ill effects or signs of letdown from last night’s game against Finland. Indeed, Team USA played their game.

A hat trick by Brandon Dubinsky paced the Americans playing their second game inside of 24 hours.

"I think we've been playing well all tournament except last night against Finland" said American head coach John Tortorella. "It was really good to get out there today in the first game and move on form last night."

The Americans wasted little time in establishing a clear and dominant presence in the first period. Their scoring chances were quality, taking 16 shots and making those opportunities count.

"I think the way we played today was because of too much disappointment from yesterday," said Norwegian captain Tommy Jakobsen. "There were too many individual efforts and we stopped playing as a team."

Dubinsky scored his first World Championship goal 11:12 into the game, giving Team USA the lead. Adam Burish added the assist.

At 12:15 Dustin Brown fired a wrist shot over goaltender Pal Grotnes to make it 2-0, and the Americans were on their way.

Patrick Kane scored a third from a pass across the slot from Zach Parise that slid through Jonas Holos and Grotnes onto Kane’s stick. Kane is enjoying an impressive World Championship debut to go along with a solid rookie campaign with the Chicago Black Hawks. The goal was his third of the tournament.

By the second Team USA extended their lead and their dominance over Norway by picking up the attack and adding even more pressure in Norway’s end of the ice.

A fourth goal was added when Grotnes could not hold on to Keith Ballard’s slapshot from the point. The puck fell from his glove into the crease where Dubinsky was there on the doorstep to tap it in.

The Norwegians were back on their heels, unable to generate anything until a 5-on-3 advantage produced a goal.

A great point shot by Mats Trygg made it 4-1. For Trygg it was a power play goal and his first of the tournament. Marius Holtet got an assist.

The Americans went back to business as usual with Paul Martin and Parise scoring to make it 6-1.

After Brown and Kessel added early goals in the third, Grotnes was replaced in goal with Ruben Smith. Kessel’s goal was a thing of beauty as Kane broke in on the wing and made a spin-o-rama move and then a no look pass to Kessel. It was a bang bang play sure to make any tournament highlight tape.

"Simply, today we got spanked," said Jakobsen.

The United States plays the loser of the Canada-Finland game. Norway must now hope for Germany to come up with a big win over Latvia if they are to make the quarterfinals.

JOHN SANFUL