HALIFAX, Canada (AFP) - Mikko Koivu scored both shorthanded and on the powerplay as reigning silver medallist Finland beat Germany 5-1 in their opening game of the ice hockey World Championships on Saturday.

Koivu scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway after forcing a turnover in the neutral zone to give Finland a 3-1 lead early in the third period.

"I just got the puck and I tried to beat the defence and make my move and it went in," Koivu said. "It was a big goal for us.

Special teams were key Saturday for Finland who lead Group C of the 16-team event. Slovakia and Norway are also in Group C and were playing the late game Saturday.

Finland reached the final last year in Moscow, losing to Canada 4-2 and are hoping for similar success this time around.

"This was a good start, but of course the first game is never easy," forward Teemu Selanne said. "Lots of our players hadn't played in a month so we needed this win. We know we can do better."

Antti-Jussi Niemi took a tripping penalty with a minute to go in the second giving Germany had a chance to tie the game 2-2 on the powerplay. But the Finns held them off, setting the stage for Koivu's shorthanded marker after the break.

The favoured Finns came out a little flat failing to convert on any of their chances in the first period at the Halifax Metro Centre arena.

"It is always tough to start a tournament," Koivu said. "They (Germans) play good defence and are a solid team. But we looked pretty good."

Koivu got them on the board on the powerplay with his first of two just under two minutes into the second period.

Germany's Jason Holland and Sebastian Osterloh were both sent off for interference within moments of each other, giving the Finns a two-man advantage.

"We gave them some easy goals," defenceman Holland said. "When you play a stronger team you have to have the philosophy that you bend but don't break."

Hannes Hyvonen made it 4-1 converting a two-on-one with Antti Pihlstrom less than two minutes later to give Finland a three-goal cushion.

Anaheim Ducks star Selanne rounded out the scoring for Finland with a nice second effort goal. Selanne fell at the blueline but was still able to make a short pass then jump up and got back into the play so he could finish off a nifty passing play.

"Three guys were coming to hit me," Selanne said. "I got up and made it into the open and received a beautiful pass from Ossi (Vaananen)."

Florian Busch scored the lone goal for Germany as he beat goalie Niklas Backstrom with a slapshot from 20 feet on the power play in the second period.

Busch had been cleared to play earlier Saturday by the World Anti-Doping agency. His status with the Germans was in limbo for the past few weeks after he refused to take a doping test at his home two months ago.

Busch declined the test initially saying he had already been tested too many times in 2008.

Sweden survived the biggest scare of the day. Patric Hornqvist scored two goals as the Tre Kronor had to rally in the third period to beat underdog Belarus 6-5 at the Colisee in Quebec City.

Rickard Wallin scored the winner with just under 10 minutes to go in the third period for Sweden who outshot Belarus 46-24 in the game.

Dmitry Meleshko scored to give Belarus a 5-4 lead early in the third period.

Hornqvist then scored the second of his two on the night just over two minutes later to tie it and set the stage for Wallin's winner.

Magnus Johansson, Nicklas Backstrom and Robert Nilsson also scored for Sweden.

Alexei Ugarov scored early in the second period to make it 3-2 and give Belarus their first lead of the game after the Swedes jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period.