HC Davos holds on to early lead to defeat winless Canada at Spengler Cup

Andrew Rowe and Leon Bristedt's early goals were enough as HC Davos fended off Canada 2-1 on Tuesday at the Spengler Cup.

The Spengler Cup is an annual club hockey tournament among European teams — and a squad of Canadian professionals — hosted by HC Davos.

Rowe and Bristedt scored within the first 1:55 of the game to stake HC Davos (1-0-0) to its early lead.

Brett Connolly of Campbell River, B.C., replied for Canada (0-2-0) at the 17:16-mark of the second period.

Goalie Connor Hughes stopped 22 shots for Canada.

WATCH l Brett Connolly score Canada's lone goal in defeat to HC Davos:

Neither team scored on the power play. Davos was 0-for-4 and Canada 0-for-2 with the man advantage.

"I thought as a team game, we played a lot better and a lot more connected, which is what I envisioned our team doing. It's tough, we got two unlucky bounces to start the game," said head coach Travis Green.

"Give our team credit, they stuck with their game. I really believe we were a better team tonight than we were last game against a pretty good team; that Davos team is fast."

Canada, winless in two starts, will play in Thursday's quarterfinals against an opponent still to be determined.