WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) - Krissy Wendell scored two goals to help the United States beat Canada 5-3 in women's exhibition hockey on Sunday.
The game was the last meeting between the teams before they head to the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in February.
The defending Olympic champion Canadians are now 8-2 against the Americans since September. Their other loss was a 2-1 shootout during an exhibition game Nov. 27 in Ohio.
U.S. head coach Ben Smith said he doesn't think Canada's pre-Olympic record against them will weigh heavily on his players' minds.
``I didn't see any podiums out there today so I think we'll stay calm,'' Smith said.
The Americans quickly silenced some of the 12,628 fans at MTS Centre, many clad in red and white, when Wendell beat Canadian goalie Charline Labonte with a wrap-around 21 seconds into the game.
Canada evened it up three minutes later on the power play when Gina Kingsbury fired the puck past Pam Dreyer during a scramble in front of the crease.
The first period ended with the United States ahead 2-1 on a goal by Katie King at 14:16.
After killing off two power plays, the Canadians tied the game on a goal by Danielle Goyette at 13:28.
Jenny Potter gave the U.S. a 3-2 lead five minutes into the third period, but Canadian Cheryl Pounder sent a rebound behind Dreyer to even it up again at 9:32.
Kristin King and Wendell then stretched the lead to 5-3 with goals three minutes apart.
``We just didn't compete,'' Canadian coach Melody Davidson said after using a profanity to describe the club's performance. ``We'll be much better the next days and the next games, but that's just not acceptable.''
The powerhouses of women's hockey begin their quest for Olympic gold on Feb. 11. Canada opens against Italy and the U.S. takes on Switzerland.
Canada's 20-member squad includes 13 veterans who won gold at the Salt Lake City Olympics in 2002, and seven who also took home silver from the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan.
The Americans are the current world champions after beating Canada last April in a shootout following a 0-0 tie in regulation and overtime.