MYTISCHI, Russia - Jamal Mayers scored his second goal of the game midway through the third period shortly after goalie Dwayne Roloson made a huge shorthanded save to help Canada to a 3-2 win over Germany in their opening games at the 2007 World Hockey Championships on Saturday.

The Canadians were on a power play when the Germans broke out of their end on a 2-on-1 and Roloson came right to left across his crease to frustrate Petr Fical with a glove save at 8:50 of the third.

The teams were at even strength when Mayers put the Canadians ahead for a second time. An aggressive forecheck by linemate Jason Chimera lead to net the game-winning goal. Chimera stole the puck from goalie Dimitrij Kotshcnew behind the German net and centered to Mayers and he swept the puck into a wide-open net for the winning goal at 11:42.

The teams went into the third period knotted at 2-2 and the Germans appeared content to sit back and wait for the Canadians to mount an attack. The Germans weren't aggressive on offence and at times had four players across their blueline in an effort to slow Canada's offence.

Canada took a short-lived lead in the first minute of play of the second period on a goal by Eric Staal, who converted a pass from Justin Williams 53 seconds after the period started.

The Germans tied it shortly after when Roloson misplayed a shot from centre by Robert Dietrich. Roloson wanted to steer the shot into the corner but it slipped through his legs at 1:23 to tied the game for a second time.

Canada and Germany headed to dressing room for the first intermission tied 1-1 on goals by Germany's Christoph Ullman midway through the first period and the equalizer by Mayers with less than three minutes to go before the break.

Canada's penalty killers were put to the test before the Germans opened the scoring when 6-foot-3 Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators nailed 5-foot-eight Yannic Seidenberg at the Canadian blueline in the second minute of play. Weber was handed a five-minute penalty for checking to the head area and a game misconduct.

An aggressive penalty-killing effort kept the Germans at bay and Canada actually had the best scoring chances during the power play, including a short-handed breakaway by Eric Staal.

Ullman opened the scoring on a defensive breakdown by the Canadians in their own end. Ullman was left unguarded in front and he tucked his own rebound past Roloson at 9:51.

The Canadians tied it on a smart play by defenceman Cory Murphy. The Germans tried to clear the puck from their end but Murphy batted it into the corner to Chimera and he sent a crisp pass to Mayers, who redirected the puck past the Kazak-born Kotschnew to tie it at 17:39.

The crowd at Mytishi Arena was announced at 4300.

Canada's next game is Monday against Norway.