05/28/23 04:15:00
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05/28 16:13 CDT Blais scores 2 as Canada downs Germany 5-2 for record 28th
title at hockey worlds
Blais scores 2 as Canada downs Germany 5-2 for record 28th title at hockey
worlds
TAMPERE, Finland (AP) --- Samuel Blais scored two goals to rally Canada to a
5-2 victory over Germany in the final of the ice hockey world championship on
Sunday.
It's a record 28th world title for Canada, and its second in three years.
Russia has 27 while Germany has never won the trophy.
Blais netted with a backhand 4:51 into the final period for a 3-2 lead for
Canada, which was playing in its fourth straight final.
"It feels really good," Blais said. "We've been in Europe for a month and we've
all waited for that moment to play for the gold medal game. And we're lucky
enough to have won it."
Lawson Crouse, Tyler Toffoli and Scott Laughton also scored for Canada, Peyton
Krebs had two assists and goaltender Samuel Montembeault stopped 21 shots.
Toffoli stretched the lead to 4-2 from the left circle with 8:09 remaining and
Laughton made it 5-2 with an empty net goal.
Adam Fantilli became only the second Canadian player after Jonathan Toews to
win gold at the world juniors and world championship the same year.
Canada had to come back twice in the final.
John Peterka wristed a shot past Montembeault from the left circle 7:44 into
the game. It was the sixth goal for the Buffalo Sabres forward at the
tournament.
Blais was fed by Krebs to beat goaltender Mathias Niederberger and tie it 1-1
at 10:47.
Daniel Fischbuch put the Germans ahead again with a one-timer with 6:13 to go
in the middle period.
Crouse equalized on a power play with 2:32 remaining in the frame.
It was the first medal for Germany since 1953 when it was second behind Sweden.
The two previously met just once in the final with Canada winning 6-1 in 1930.
LATVIA GETS BRONZE
Defenseman Kristian Rubins scored his second goal 1:22 into overtime to lead
Latvia to a 4-3 victory over the United States and earn a bronze medal earlier
Sunday.
It's the first top-three finish for Latvia at the tournament. Its previous best
was a seventh place it managed three times.
The U.S. lost in the bronze medal game for the second straight year. The U.S.
team was cruising through the tournament with eight straight wins until it was
defeated by Germany in the semifinal 4-3 in overtime.
Rubins rallied Latvia with his first with 5:39 to go in the final period to tie
the game at 3 to force overtime.
Roberts Bukarts and Janis Jaks also scored for Latvia.
Rocco Grimaldi scored twice for the U.S. in the opening period to negate
Latvia's 1-0 and 2-1 leads.
Matt Coronato had put the U.S. 3-2 ahead 6:19 into the final period.
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