The Canadian and Russian teams made quick work of two much weaker opponents on Sunday evening in the first round of the Ice Hockey World Championship.

Canada, the world's second-ranked team, scored early and often, racking up goals throughout the game and dispatching 20th-ranked Hungary 9-0 in Zurich.

It was Hungary's first championship as a top-tier team in 71 years.

Martin St Louis of the National Hockey League's Tampa Bay Lightning struck for Canada just over five minutes into the game, scoring his first of three goals for the evening against goalkeeper Levente Szuper.

Shea Weber followed at the 9:07 mark and Derek Roy of the Buffalo Sabres followed at 12:35, assisted by Mike Fisher and Jason Spezza.

James Neal scored Canada's fourth goal 13 seconds later.

Scottie Upshall's match penalty less than three minutes into the second period made for Canada's only blemish, as St Louis added his second goal at 27:35. Weber scored again less than two minutes later, prompting Hungary to replace goalie Szuper with Zoltan Hetenyi.

Canada's Mike Fisher added a power play goal at the 41:06 mark before St Louis completed the hat trick at 44:51.

Canada will face Slovakia on Tuesday evening. Hungary play Belarus earlier in the afternoon in Zurich.

Russia clean up

In Bern, the Swiss capital, Russia skated to a 7-2 victory over France. It was the second loss for France, who were defeated 1-0 by Switzerland on Friday.

Russia got onto the scoreboard at 1:23 in the first period after Alexander Radulov beat French netminder Eddy Fehri, who was playing his first game of the tournament.

Russian Danis Zaripov beat Fehri at 7:06, Alexander Radulov scored 14 seconds later and Kazakh-born Alexander Perezhogin added a goal at 8:01.

France's Kevin Hecquefeuille denied Russia the shutout when he beat goalie Alexander Eremenko at 10:25. Alexi Tereschenko scored at the 15:00 mark, providing Russia with a 5-1 lead after the first period.

France held Russia without a goal for more than seven minutes in the second period until Alexi Tereschenko beat Fehri at 27:23. France's Luc Tardif scored less than 30 seconds before the end of the second period, bringing tally to 6-2 in favour of Russia.

Eremenko, the Russian goalie, faced just 22 shots in the game.

In the third period, Atlanta Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk brought the puck into the French zone, adding another goal for Russia at 49:20.

Russia have now won both of their games so far and play Switzerland on Tuesday in Group B's preliminary round. France play winless Germany later that evening in Bern.

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