AFP/Helsinki, FinlandOlympic champions Canada battled back from two goals down to clinch their group lead with a 5-3 win over reigning champions, and co-hosts of the world ice hockey championship, Finland here Friday. New York Islanders center John Tavares and Carolina Hurricanes center Jeff Skinner both collected a goal and an assist, while goalie Cam Ward made 35 saves to lift their team on top of their group. The Finns got off to a lively start through left winger Antti Pihlstrom who had his 13,000 home supporters on their feet, scoring the opening goal 5:53 into the match. Finland skipper Mikko Koivu made it 2-0 on a powerplay halfway into the first period. But in the second Canada upped the tempo to level at 3-3 through Vancouver Canucks winger Alexandre Burrows, Tavares and Skinner, who scored one apiece, while Jussi Jokinen was on target for Finland. Winnipeg Jets center Evander Kane scored the Canada winner 6:04 into the third. In the late stages Finland substituted their ‘keeper for the sixth field player but only to allow Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle to send the puck into the empty net with just 24sec to go. “We started well but got ourselves into some penalty trouble in the first period,” Canada coach Brent Sutter said. “We regrouped in the break. In the second and third periods we were more persistent.” “That was team Finland’s second game in two nights and I think it helped us in the last two periods.” Meanwhile, in Stockholm, Russia also came back from two goals down to maintain their lead with a 7-3 win over Sweden, their fifth win in as many matches. Sweden were slightly more precise in the first period scoring two powerplay goals by Ottawa Senators defender Erik Karlsson and Detroit Red Wings wing Henrik Zetterberg, while Russia replied through Alexander Popov. In the second, Russia pulled to level as this year’s NHL scoring champion Yevgeni Malkin and Alexei Yemelin both scored for Russia, while another Detroit winger Johan Franzen added his goal for Sweden.