MERIBEL, France -- Canada's third-period comeback against
the Unified Team didn't win the game. It earned something more valuable -- the top spot in its group.
The former Soviet Union, which needed to win by three goals to overtake the Canadians, pulled out a 5-4 victory yesterday in one of the most intense games of the tournament.
In its opening medal-round game tomorrow, Canada will play the easiest competition from the other group, probably Germany or Italy. The Unified Team, which finished second, and Czechoslovakia, the third-place team, will face stiffer competition.
Third-period goals by Dave Tippett and Dave Hannan erased a 4-2 Unified Team lead.