Canada is onto the semifinals at the IIHF Men’s World Championship after defeating the United States 4-0 in the quarter-final Thursday in Fribourg.
Macklin Celebrini and Dylan Holloway scored for Canada in the win and Jet Greaves stopped all 34 shots in net for the shutout. Connor Brown and Sidney Crosby each added empty-netters late in the third to seal the win.
Celebrini’s goal came late in the first period when he fired a laser from the slot that beat Devin Cooley glove-side on the power play. It was his sixth goal and 12th point in six games so far at this year’s tournament.
Holloway’s goal came midway through the second when he put home a rebound off the rush to double Canada’s advantage.
It wasn’t total smooth sailing for Canada as defenceman Evan Bouchard was forced out of the game early in the opening period after taking a high hit from U.S. defenceman Ryan Lindgren. The Seattle Kraken blueliner was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head while Bouchard did not return, officially being ruled out during the second period.
“You don’t want to see guys go down. Obviously he’s a very important player for us, a very talented player. We need guys to step up, take on more ice time and responsibility . . . We’ll be able to do that,” defenceman Morgan Rielly told TSN’s Brit Dort during the first intermission.
The victory over the U.S. is a small consolation for Canadian hockey fans after the Americans defeated Canada in the gold-medal game in both the men’s and women’s Olympic hockey finals in February, as well as the men’s Paralympic final in March.
Also on Thursday, Finland advanced to the semifinal with a 4-1 victory over Czechia. Switzerland/Sweden and Norway/Latvia make up the other quarter-final games later on Thursday.
All teams will be off Friday at the Worlds before resuming for the semifinal round on Saturday.
More to come.
