The game was played in front of a vocal crowd of 14,658 at the Air Canada Centre, the site of Sunday's 50th NHL All-Star game. The Canadian team, buoyed by its exuberant, flag-waving fans, scored early and often while limiting a frustrated American team to a handful of poor scoring chances.

The United States beat Canada 4-1 in Buffalo, N.Y., on Wednesday night. It was the Americans' first win over their archrivals since the 1998 Winter Olympics, in which the United States won the gold. Canada had won all eight previous rematches.

But in Toronto, Canada reclaimed control of the rivalry with an impressive performance featuring six goal scorers and an outstanding game from star forward Wickenheiser. Thousands of teen-aged and pre-teen girls squealed their approval after each goal and filled the building with chants of "Can-a-da!"

This week's two games were used by the teams' coaches as an evaluation period for the world championships, to be held in Mississauga, Ont., in April.

Veteran goalie Erin Whitten, cut from the American team that won gold in Nagano, was shaky in net for the United States as her personal 13-game winning streak was snapped. She stopped 24 of 30 shots.

As she usually does, Wickenheiser, 21, dominated play for long stretches and was selected player of the the game. After Canada's Amy Turek started the scoring in the first period, Wickenheiser set up Danielle Goyette's first-period goal that put Canada up 2-0.

Vicky Sunohara, left alone in front of the USA net during a Canada power play, redirected Wickenheiser's slap shot into the top corner to give Canada a 3-0 lead midway through the second period. Two minutes later, Whitten misplayed Jayna Hefford's soft wrister to put Canada up 4-0.

Judy Diduck, the sister of Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Gerald Diduck, added a breakaway goal later in the period. Dana Antal completed the scoring with a third-period goal on a Wickenheiser pass.

Small, though rarely tested, was solid in net for Canada. She made a diving poke-check near the blue line that prevented Karyn Bye from cashing in a short-handed breakaway midway through the first period.

Small is in a battle with three other goalies, including Manon Rheaume who was a scratch Friday, for a spot on the Canadian national team. American backup goalie Sara Tueting has lost to Canada three times this year.

Former NHL stars Darryl Sittler and Lanny McDonald got loud ovations when they were shown on the Air Canada Centre's video screen. Sittler's daughter, Meaghan, was named the American team's top player.