Canada finished as the top seed out of the preliminary round after winning all three group games, with their plus-17 goal differential providing the tiebreaker over the United States.
Four different players contributed three points in Canada’s 10-2 thumping of France on Sunday to close out group play, giving them a total of 20 goals scored and just three goals allowed in their games against Switzerland, Czechia, and France in Group A.
The United States finished second with three wins and a goal differential of plus-11 to win Group C, while Slovakia took the Group B title and Finland emerged as the fourth team to clinch an automatic spot in the quarter-finals.
Canada will await the winner of the men’s qualification playoff between Czechia and Denmark, which will take place on Tuesday, because playing their quarter-final match at 10:40 a.m. ET on Wednesday.
“We had a job to do with the first three, and we’ve done that,” forward Sam Reinhart said. “Now it’s shifting focus, and it’s starting for real.”
Team Canada defeated Czechia 5-0 in their tournament opener on Feb. 12, when five different skaters scored, and Connor McDavid tallied three assists.
Major takeaways from the game included a reinforced confidence in the team and their potential in the tournament.
“Listen, it’s just one game,” head coach Jon Cooper said. “But the way we’ve started and the way today’s gone, pretty proud and confident in the way this team’s going to play.”
One player who drew especially rave reviews after the tournament opener was 19-year-old San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini, who scored a goal in the victory and tallied an assist.
“Besides the goal, he played great,” said McDavid. “Just so, so solid along the wall. Made so many great plays. Kept so many pucks alive. Really, really impressive kid. I can’t say enough good things about him.”
But Canada’s opponent is not locked in yet - Denmark escaped the group stage as the ninth seed after winning one of three games in Group C, thanks largely to their minus-3 goal differential, which was among the better totals of the team to finish the preliminary round with three points.
Czechia escaped Group A as the eighth seed, with a minus-3 goal differential and four points, thanks to their overtime loss against Switzerland.
Qualification playoff schedule
Eight teams will compete on Tuesday for spots in the quarter-finals. It begins at 6:10 a.m. ET with Germany playing France and Switzerland playing Italy, followed by Czechia battling Denmark at 10:40 a.m. ET and Sweden are going against Latvia at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Germany vs. France - 6:10 a.m. ET / 3:10 a.m. PT, Tuesday, Feb. 17
Switzerland vs. Italy - 6:10 a.m. ET / 3:10 a.m. PT, Tuesday, Feb. 17
Czechia vs. Denmark - 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT, Tuesday, Feb. 17
Sweden vs. Latvia - 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT, Tuesday, Feb. 17
Quarter-final schedule
The winners of each of the qualification playoff games will take on the top four teams from group play in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. Play begins in the quarter-final round with Slovakia taking on the winner of the game between Germany and France at 6:10 a.m. ET, followed by Canada taking on the winner of Czechia and Denmark at 10:40 a.m. ET. Then Finland will play the winner of Switzerland and Italy at 12:10 p.m. ET, followed by the final quarter-final match at 3:10 p.m. ET, which will feature the United States against the winner of the game between Sweden and Latvia.
Slovakia vs. Germany/France - 6:10 a.m. ET / 3:10 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 18
Canada vs. Czechia/Denmark - 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 18
Finland vs. Switzerland/Italy - 12:10 p.m. ET / 9:10 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 18
United States vs. Sweden/Latvia - 3:10 p.m. ET / 12:10 p.m. PT, Wednesday, Feb. 18
