Stephane Da Costa, Team France Beat Team Canada In SO

Feb 4, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; Ottawa Senators center Stephane Da Costa (24) takes a shot against the St. Louis Blues during the first period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

In the opening game of the 2014 World Championships between Team Canada and Team France, it was a member of the Ottawa Senators organization that was the hero for his country, but not the one you might expect.

Facing off against teammates Kyle Turris and Marc Methot, it was Stephane Da Costa who was the star for the French as he scored both goals in regulation to push the Canadians to overtime and eventually the shootout, which the French won.

Da Costa opened the scoring late in the first period, and after Brayden Schenn and Erik Gudbranson had tied late in the first and put Canada ahead mid-third, Da Costa struck again on the power play to force a shootout and get at least an unexpected point in the standings.

Turris missed the opening shot of the shootout, stopped by ex-NHLer Cristobal Huet, while James Reimer stopped Da Costa in the second round.  The winner was put in by Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, as the French win a shocker.

Da Costa will be a restricted free agent this summer and will require a qualifying offer to remain property of the Senators.  He has been on the fringe of being a legitimate NHL player for a couple of years, but always seems to fall just short of expectation.