Canada advances to gold medal game against Finland at IIHF Worlds
Canada is headed to the gold medal game against Finland at the IIHF World Championships after beating the Czech Republic 5-1 on Saturday afternoon at Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Team Canada’s quarterfinal hero, Mark Stone, opened the scoring to give Canada a 1-0 advantage over the Czech Republic just five minutes into the first. This is Stone’s eighth goal of the tournament. In Canada’s quarterfinal matchup against the USA, Stone scored the game winning goal to send Canada through to the semis.
Canada upped their lead in the second by two with goals from Darnell Nurse and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Nurse’s goal came first, just 10 seconds into the period off a pass from Sean Couturier. He was able to bank it past Czech netminder Patrik Bartosak.
Dubois’s goal came just minutes later off of a backdoor pass from Jonathan Marchessault.
The Canadians continued their scoring streak into the third despite a goaltending change from the Czech Republic. Captain Kyle Turris scored for Canada with help from Anthony Mantha to extend Canada’s lead to 4-0. Defensemen Thomas Chabot notched another one for Canada shortly after, going top shelf from the slot to make it a 5-0 game.
The Czechs scoring woes continued until late in the third when Tomas Zohorna finally put one on the board for them – ending Canadian goaltender Matt Murray’s bid for a shutout. Murray was a brick wall for Canada, stopping all but one shot out of the 40 he faced.
Next up, Canada will take on Finland in the finals at 2 pm ET on Sunday, May 26.
Quarterfinals: May 21 – Canada 3 vs. United States 0
Canada is through to the semifinals at the IIHF Worlds after a thrilling 3-2 victory. A last second goal by Damon Severson in the third tied the game up, while Mark Stone scored the overtime winner.
Late in the first period, Canada went on the penalty kill when Jared McCann picked up two minutes for interference. This led to Switzerland getting on the board with the game’s first goal.
In the second frame, a turnover by the Swiss gave Stone the chance to tie it up with his fifth goal of the tournament.
With three seconds left in the period and with a man advantage, Switzerland retook the lead into the second intermission.
In the third, it looked like Canada’s time at the tournament was coming to an end. But then with 0.4 seconds left in the game, Severson tied the game up.
After a goal review, a thumbs up from the referee signalled a good goal and pending overtime action.
Halfway into the extra frame, Stone scored his second of the game to send Canada to the semifinals. The goal was assisted by Pierre-Luc Dubois and Shea Theodore.
Canada will play the Czech Republic on Saturday at 1:15pm ET.
Game 7: May 21 – Canada 3 vs. United States 0
Canada ended off the preliminary round with a 3-0 win against the United States. They head into the playoffs with a six game winning streak, and clinch first place in Group A.
Pierre-Luc Dubois put Canada on the board early in the first with some help from Mark Stone.
READ: Memorable moments in the Canada-USA hockey rivalry
Minutes later, Captain Kyle Turris took advantage of a turnover by the USA’s James van Rimesdyk to score his third goal of the tournament.
In the second period, a shot from Darnell Nurse almost pulled Canada ahead 3-0, but it was ruled no goal due to a high stick from Stone on the shot.
It didn’t slow down the Canadians, as Jared McCann scored Canada’s third goal of the game not long after.
Late in the final frame, Jonathan Marchessault went to the penalty box for hooking. Canada killed off the penalty successfully and held off the U.S. from scoring any goals for the last two minutes of the game.
All quarterfinal games will be played on Thursday May 23.
Canada will face off against Switzerland at 10:15am ET. The Swiss finished in fourth place in Group B.
Game 6: May 20 – Canada 5 vs. Denmark 0
Team Canada continued their success at the IIHF World Championships with a 5-0 win against Denmark.
Playing a dominant game throughout, Canada was able to achieve their fifth consecutive win of the preliminary round. With one game left before the quarterfinals against the USA, they currently hold the second place spot in Group A with a 5-1 record.
Early into game six of the IIHF World Championships, Pierre-Luc Dubois was first to put Canada on the board after he berried a perfect cantering pass from Jonathan Marchessault just a minute into the first period. The second goal came shortly after, when Jared McCann snapped one home from the slot at 6:06 to make it 2-0 for Team Canada. At 8:23 Marchessault executed a precise deflection from Damon Severson’s shot from the point to bring the score to 3-0 until the end of the first period.
Early in the second period, Canada took three minor penalties, but Denmark was unable to capitalize. Late in the second, Sam Reinhart drilled in a perfect shot over Denmark goaltender’s shoulder for a power-play goal and a 4-0 lead.
Less than five minutes into the third, Reinhart was able to reach the back of the net again with a deflection of Philippe Myers wrist shot from the point to make the score 5-0. Canada’s defence held Denmark scoreless throughout the game, as Canadian goaltenders Carter Hart and Mackenzie Blackwood shut down any chance of scoring.
Game 5: May 18 – Canada 8 vs. Germany 1
Playing a dominant game throughout, Canada was able to secure their fourth consecutive win of the preliminary round at Steel Arena. With two games left before the quarterfinals, they currently hold the second place spot in Group A with a 4-1 record.
Thomas Chabot was first to put Canada on the board with a power play goal just two minutes into the first period. Later, Team Canada’s alternate captain Mark Stone upped their lead with a goal off the rebound just before intermission. Despite making 16 shots on goal, Germany couldn’t get one past Canadian goaltender Matt Murray and played a scoreless first period.
Mark Stone was able to reach the back of the net again with help from Dylan Strome and Jonathan Marchessault to give Canada a 3-0 lead early in the second. While they couldn’t capitalize in the first period, Germany’s Yasin Ehliz was finally able to get one past Murray on a convert to cut into Canada’s lead.
However, Stone wasn’t having any of it. The 27-year old responded to Germany with a hat trick to secure Canada’s lead at 4-1 before the periods end.
In the third, Canada’s defense held Germany scoreless yet again.
All the while, Canada’s forwards were able to put up four more goals – scoring three of them in just 2:27 courtesy of Anthony Mantha and Sam Reinhart. With just a few or minutes to go, Anthony Cirelli notched another goal for Canada on a shorthanded breakaway.
Mantha is currently second in the tournament’s scoring with 11 points (7G, 4A).
Next up, Canada will be taking on Team Denmark on Monday, May 20 at 2 pm ET.
Game 4: May 16 – Canada 5 vs. France 2
Canada improved their record to 3-1 against France on Thursday, after maintaining their early lead to come out with a 5-2 victory.
Sporting the black sweaters at the Steel Arena in Slovakia, Team Canada won their fourth match of the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
France started the game with some early penalties which allowed Team Canada to capitalize on having an extra man. A crisp pass from Shea Theodore to Anthony Mantha’s blistering one-timer got Canada on the score board halfway through the first to make it 1-0.
Canada gained their momentum and two minutes later a precise pass from Jonathan Marchessault to Darnell Nurse allowed Canada to further drive their lead to 2-0.
Four minutes remaining in the first period, Sean Couturier from behind the net, fed Anthony Cirelli to bury the puck in between the post and French goaltender, Henri Corentin Buysse.
With France only having two shots in the first period, they stepped it up in the second period. They took advantage of a tripping penalty by defenceman, Damon Severson and got on the scoreboard. Making the score 3-1 at the end of the second period.
Going into the third, France gained energy and Anthony Rech was able to intercept a behind the net pass from Canadian defenceman Severson. Making it 3-2 and an intense third period.
France tried to close in on Canada’s lead throughout the third. Mantha responded and forced the puck to trickle over the crowded France goal line.
Halfway through the third, Marchessault then fed the puck in between French defenders to Mark Stone, who brought the win home with a goal at 10:55 to make it 5-2.
Mantha is currently 3rd in tournament scoring with nine points.
Next Canada will face Germany at 10:15am EDT 7:15am PT on Saturday, May 18.
Game 3: May 13 – Canada 6 vs. Slovakia 5
Birthday boy Mark Stone scored the game winner, with 1.8 seconds left in the game.
Early in the first, Canada was down 0-2. Goals from Anthony Mantha and Shea Theodore tied the game up.
In the second, Slovakia came out strong, scoring two unanswered goals. Canada’s Johnathan Marchessault took advantage of the power play and scored the first of three straight goals by Canada.
Before Canada pulled ahead 5-4, Slovak forward Tomáš Tatar had a goal called off due to interference.
With 8:15 remaining in the third, Matus Sukel tied the game up once again.
The Slovaks were called for tripping with under two minutes left in the game, leading to Stone’s game winning goal.
Canada will play France at 10:15am ET / 7:15am PT on Thursday.
READ: FAQ: Team Canada at the 2019 IIHF World Championship
Game 2: May 12 – Canada 8 vs. Great Britain 0
Team Canada shut down Great Britain with a one-sided 8-0 victory on Sunday in the second match of the 2019 IIHF World Championship.
Anthony Mantha currently leads Canada in points with two goals and three assists during their victory over Great Britain. Canada dominated shots and every aspect of play to overwhelm the British early in the first period.
Starting off strong, Team Canada opened the scoring early in the first period as Mathieu Joseph scored less than 3 minutes into the game. Later in the first, Mantha scored the second goal of the game at 12:33 as Canada led the score board after the first period 2-0.
Kyle Turris opened the second period strong, roofing the puck with a backhand shot from a cross-ice pass from Anthony Mantha.
Not long after, Canada got their second power play when Finland was called for boarding and a 10-minute misconduct. Dylan Strome took advantage of this, locating the loose puck in a scramble and driving it home to score at 7:05 in the second.
With just 23 seconds remaining in the second period, Dante Fabbro earned his first goal of the tournament, with a blistering slap shot to put Canada up 5-0 at the end of period two.
Turris also opened up the third period scoring, putting Canada up 6-0 just 57 seconds into the period with his second goal of the game and another assist from Mantha.
At 6:46 Sean Couturier chipped in a puck to score at the end of a power play. Earning his fifth point of the game and Canada’s final goal of the game, Mantha scored his second goal to help Team Canada defeat Britain 8-0 after a very eventful game.
Game 1: May 10 – Finland 3 vs. Canada 1
Canada started the 2019 IIHF World Championship with a 3-1 loss to Finland on Friday in Košice, Slovakia.
Finland opened the scoring in the first period with a goal from 2019 NHL Entry Draft prospect Kaapo Kakko.
Not long after, Canada got its first power play when Finland was called for high-sticking. Johnathan Marchessault took advantage and tied the score up.
Finland pulled ahead again with a goal from Arttu Ilomaki when defenceman Damon Severson was sent to the box for cross-checking.
Late in the third, Matt Murray was pulled for the chance to tie the game, but Finland’s Kakko scored his second of the game with an empty-net goal.
On Monday Canada will face Great Britain at 2:15pm EDT/11:15am PDT.
