IIHF – King Crosby

The last time Slovakia beat Canada in an Ice Hockey World Championship was in 2012 when they sent them packing in the quarterfinal, 4-3, in Helsinki. Since then, Canada had won the last three games between the teams in 2022, 2023, and 2024, with a 13-5 goal difference.

 

In Stockholm, Canada took their fourth straight win, 7-0.

 

Sidney Crosby scored two and added two assists, Macklin Celebrini collected three points for Canada; Jordan Binnington recorded a 14-save shutout.

 

Slovakia defended bravely in the first period, but with Canada having possession in the Slovak zone most of the time, it was only a matter of time before they’d find the back of the net and with about five minutes remaining in the period, it happened.

 

Two quick passes by Crosby and Travis Konency sent the puck to Brandon Montour, who simply had to one-time it into a practically empty Slovak net at 14.44.

 

Team Canada doubled their lead 64 seconds later. Ryker Evans carried the puck into Slovakia’s zone and dropped it to Tyson Foerster who took a step in and using the Slovak defensemen as a screen, fired a snapshot. When Rybar realized where the puck was, it was too late. Canada had a 2-0 lead, with 4.12 remaining in the first period.

 

Slovakia had their share of chances early in the second period, on power play, but Binnington wouldn’t allow anything past him. After Canada had killed off the penalty, they got back to work with scoring more goals

 

Macklin Celebrini spun away from a Slovak defenseman and passed the puck to Crosby who immediately redirected it to Montour on the blueline. He fired a slap shot, and Rybar made the save, but Celebrini grabbed the rebound and sent a no-look pass behind his back to Crosby who fired the puck into an empty net from a sharp angle to make it 3-0 at 3.25.

 

Slovakia had only three shots on goal in the period, and just one in the last 15 minutes of it. To be fair, Slovakia had a few chances, but they either missed the net or whiffed on the puck.

 

With two minutes remaining Canada struck again. Konecny won a puck battle in the corner, found Crosby behind the net and number 87 immediately delivered it to Celebrini in front of the net. Result: 4-0 at 18.08.

 

Nathan MacKinnon made it 5-0 before the period was over when his cross-ice pass hit a Slovak stick in the slot, and the puck got deflected into the net just 61 second before the end of the period.

 

Adam Huska…