Despite having the better of the game and outshooting their opponents by 19 shots to eight, it was ultimately their cutting edge in front of the goal that let them down as the Norwegians made the most of their chances to snatch the three points with a 3-2 win thanks to a Rolf Pedersen double and a strike from Morten Værnes at the venue that will host ice sledge hockey at next year's Winter Paralympics.

Goals from Ilya Volkov and Vasilii Varlakov proved futile for the home side, whose dominance was reflected in the fact that Norwegian goalkeeper Kjell Hamar was forced into action 17 times during the match while his opposite number had just five saves to make.

The favourites did come out on top in the second game however, as the world champions from Canada overpowered the Czech Republic to take a 3-1 win from their opening fixture.

Greg Westlake, Kevin Rempel and Ben Delaney all netted for Canada in a match they dominated, taking 26 shots to their opponents three, with Czech goalkeeper Michal Vápenka making 23 saves to Canadian keeper Benoit St-Amand's two stops.

World champions Canada came out on top against the Czech Republic in Sochi

This tournament is the final international test event to be hosted by Sochi 2014 before the Winter Games, which get underway next February.

More than 100 representatives of the Organising Committee will continue testing of all services and functions at the venue throughout the tournament.

The action continues tomorrow at the Shayba Arena with the two sides that won their opening fixtures, Norway and Canada, facing off, while Russia look to get back on track against the Czech Republic.

Watch live action from the tournament here.

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