Turku, Finland (My Sportsbook) - Jay Bouwmeester scored a pair of goals, but it was only enough for Canada to tie Denmark, 2-2, in their qualifying round game at the World Hockey Championship in Finland.

Sean Burke of the Phoenix Coyotes made 20 saves for Canada, while Peter Hirsch turned aside 41 for Denmark.

Bouwmeester, who had just two goals in 82 games this season for the Florida Panthers, scored his second goal late in the second period to tie the contest.

The 6'3", 210-pound defenseman gave the Canadians a 1-0 lead with a shot from the point that beat Hirsch five-hole.

Denmark answered with a pair of goals just 21 seconds apart before the end of the opening period. Toronto-born Dan Jensen scored to tie the game and Lars Molgaard one-timed a slapper past Burke for the lead.

Canada had a power-play to finish the game but the Danes held on for the tie.

Ronny Larsen assisted on both goals for the Danes, who are making a return to the A pool at the world championship after a 54-year absence.

Canada clobbered Denmark 47-0 at the 1949 world championship, when the Sudbury Wolves amateur club represented the Canadians.

The United States, meanwhile, earned its first victory at the World Championships, beating Slovenia 7-2 in the relegation round. Phil Housley of the Toronto Maple Leafs scored for the Americans, who lost all three preliminary-round games and were sent to the relegation round for the first time since 1998.

The Americans began the tournament with a 5-2 loss to Denmark. The U.S. team then lost to Switzerland 1-0 and to Russia 3-2.

Other teams in the relegation round are Belarus and Japan. Belarus beat Japan, 3-1. The top two teams in the round-robin series will remain in hockey's elite championship. The last two will play in Division I next year.

In other qualifying round games Friday, Sweden beat Russia 4-2, Slovakia trounced Finland 5-1 and the Czech Republic downed the Ukraine 5-2.

Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg and Jonas Hoglund and Mats Sundin of Toronto scored in the victory for Sweden.

Buffalo's Miroslav Satan scored twice during a four-goal third period in Slovakia's win over the host country.

Milan Hejduk of Colorado had two goals in the Czech Republic's win.