Canada beats Czech Republic 4-3 in OT at men's hockey world championship, US tops Latvia 6-3
Canada's Dylan Cozens, 2nd right, celebrates with teammates after scoring his sides fourth goal during the preliminary round match between Czech Republic and Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
PRAGUE — Dylan Cozens scored a short-handed goal in overtime for Canada to edge the Czech Republic 4-3 and complete the preliminary round at the ice hockey world championship Tuesday with seven straight wins.
The Buffalo Sabres center scored his second of the game with 1:47 left with Pierre-Luc Dubois in the penalty box for holding. It was Cozens' tournament-leading eighth goal.
Canada topped Group A and will face Slovakia in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Switzerland beat Finland 3-1 to take second in Group A, bumping the Czechs into third and a quarterfinal against the United States.
Down 3-1 with less than five minutes in regulation, the Czech Republic forced overtime with two goals after twice pulling goaltender Lukas Dostal.
Ondrej Palat reduced Canada’s lead to 3-2 by deflecting a shot into the net on a power play with Dostal pulled for a two-man advantage.
Roman Cervenka tied the game with 1:49 left.
Britain's Brett Perlini, left, shoots to score his sides second goal past Austria's David Kickert during the preliminary round match between Austria and Great Britain at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
The game was scoreless through two periods. Cozens opened the scoring on a power play 1:01 into the third period from the top of the left circle.
Dominik Kubalik one-timed a shot from the right to tie it at 1-1 on a power play.
Dawson Mercer netted a backhand to put Canada ahead again and Brandon Hagel made it 3-1 on a breakaway before the Czechs pulled even.
The United States finished second in Group B after beating Latvia 6-3 in their final preliminary game highlighted by Cole Caufield's two goals and two assists.
Britain's Brett Perlini, front celebrates after scoring his sides second goal past Austria's David Kickert during the preliminary round match between Austria and Great Britain at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
Brady Tkatchuk, Matt Boldy and Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist each, and Joel Farabee also scored.
Latvia, last year’s bronze medalist, was eliminated.
Group B winner Sweden will meet Finland next. Joel Eriksson Ek scored two goals and Erik Karlsson had a goal and two assists in Sweden's 6-1 rout of Slovakia to record seven wins from seven in regulation.
Earlier, Britain rallied past Austria 4-2 for its first win.
The victory came after six straight losses for Britain, which finished bottom in Group A with three points and had been already relegated after one year in the top division.
Austria needed to win the game in regulation to retain a chance of qualifying for the playoff round for the first time since 1994. Finland got a playoff spot instead.
Germany completed Group B with a 6-3 win over France and will meet play Switzerland in the quarterfinals.
