Leopold gives US tie with Latvia

TURIN (Reuters) - Jordan Leopold's third period goal allowed the United States to escape with 3-3 tie against unfancied Latvia in their Olympic men's ice hockey tournament opener on Wednesday.

With a roster of players plucked mostly from European leagues and anchored by former NHL goalie Arturs Irbe, Latvia was given little chance against the 2002 Salt Lake City silver medallists.

But the tiny Baltic nation gave the U.S. all they could handle and more with some energetic play and vintage netminding from Irbe, who faced a 42-shot barrage.

The Americans got the contest off to a quick start taking a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period on goals from New Jersey Devils right wing Brian Gionta and Los Angeles Kings center Craig Conroy.

Latvia, however, would not be fazed as Aleksandrs Nizivijs scored to slice the lead in half before the end of the period.

With President Vaira Vike-Freiberga urging them on, Latvia would take a 3-2 lead in the second period when Atvars Tribuncovs and Herberts Vasiljevs scored goals 40 seconds apart.

The Americans were quickly on the attack in the third period. Leopold, a defenceman with the Calgary Flames, tied the game when Irbe could not control his floater from just inside the blue line.