Tipster profile image
Victor Petkov
twitter iconlikedin iconlikedin icon
Head of Content authorBadge
Last Updated:

4 min read

Canada and US continue dominance in IIHF
google news logo Follow us
Add comment
Both teams won their second games of the tournament

North American powerhouses USA and Canada claimed their second wins in the group stage at the IIHF in Latvia and Finland.

In a clash from group “B” in Riga, the Canadians beat the team of Slovenia 5:2 (0:1, 3:0, 2:1).

The Maple Leafs were surprisingly trailing after the first 20 minutes after Jan Drožg gave the Slovenians the lead with a man-of-the-match goal in the fourth minute. Until the end of the first period, the game was completely equal, but in the second third, the puck was constantly in front of the goal of the Slovenians, which logically led to three goals in the net by Luka Gracnar.

Michael Carcon equalized 1:1 73 seconds after the start of the second period, and in its eighth minute Canada took the lead for the first time through Pierre-Olivier Joseph. Veteran Milan Lucic added another goal for Canada a minute before the end for 3:1. In the final half Mackenzie Weager and Jack McBain made it 5-1 before Jan Drozg rounded off the final score with his second goal of the game.

With the win, Canada remains top of the group with six points after the first two games.

The leader in group “A” also with six points is the USA team. In Tampere, the Americans beat Hungary 7:1 (2:1, 2:0, 3:0). As in Riga, the outsider took the lead as well. Istvan Shofron scored for the Magyars in the fifth minute.

However, Hungary’s lead lasted just two minutes before Alex Tuch equalized. Two goals by Nick Bonino at the end of the first period and at the beginning of the second followed to kill the intrigue. By the end of the game, the Americans made their victory even more convincing with goals from Cutter Gauthier, Connor McKee, Rocco Grimaldi and Luke Tuch.