PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Penguins center Lasse Pirjeta scored twice as Finland rallied to beat the United States, 4-2, on the opening day of the world championships.

The Americans jumped to a 2-0 lead in the opening period, but Finland tied it in the second.

Pirjeta gave Finland a 3-2 lead 12:55 into the third period when he fired a slap shot past New York Rangers goalie Mike Dunham. Pirjeta made it 4-2 with a little more than a minute left.

The United States is trying to avoid a repeat of its 13th-place finish at the world championships last year, when the Americans barely escaped relegation.

They need a good showing to automatically qualify for the 2006 Olympics. The top eight teams in the world rankings after this tournament earn spots for the Turin Games.

The United States is currently ranked eighth.

The host Czech Republic defeated Latvia, 3-1, behind two goals from Los Angeles Kings forward and former Penguins star Martin Straka.

Straka, who missed most of the NHL season because of a knee injury, scored twice in the first period.

In Ostrava, Magnus Kahnberg had a goal and former Penguin Andreas Johansson chipped in with two assists as Sweden beat Denmark, 5-1. Austria defeated France, 6-0, and 2002 champion Slovakia shut out Ukraine, 2-0.

Canada was forced to replace coach Joel Quenneville, who was hospitalized because of exhaustion before the team began the tournament.

The former St. Louis Blues coach was released from the hospital last night under doctor's care and was expected to fly home in the next couple of days.

Anaheim coach Mike Babcock will take over behind Canada's bench when the team begins play today.

Brett Hauer of the United States clashes with Niklas Hagman of Finland in their group B preliminary round match at the Championships.