05/28/26 02:20:00
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05/28 14:18 CDT Celebrini and Crosby score as Canada beats US to advance to
semifinals of ice hockey worlds
Celebrini and Crosby score as Canada beats US to advance to semifinals of ice
hockey worlds
FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) --- Macklin Celebrini scored again, Sidney Crosby
netted his first and Jet Greaves stopped 34 shots as Canada beat the United
States 4-0 in a rematch of the Olympic final to advance to the semifinals at
the ice hockey world championship on Thursday.
In the latest edition of their fierce rivalry, Canada's quarterfinal victory
ended the Americans' quest to retain the trophy that they had won for the first
time since 1933.
The two teams met for the first time since the gold-medal game at the Milan
Cortina Olympics three months ago, when the Americans prevailed 2-1 in overtime.
Canada remains on course to capture its 29th title at the worlds.
Celebrini scored his sixth goal at the worlds, Crosby got his first, and Dylan
Holloway and Connor Brown also scored. Mark Scheifele had two assists, and
Greaves turned away every shot he faced.
"He is calm and tonight came up with the big save when we needed it," forward
John Tavares said of Greaves. "He was the best player on the ice tonight, for
sure."
The 19-year-old Celebrini broke the deadlock with 1:29 remaining in the opening
period on a power play with a shot from the slot to beat U.S. goalie Devin
Cooley.
Earlier, Canada wasted a five-minute major penalty for Ryan Lindgren's illegal
check to the head of defenseman Evan Bouchard and game misconduct.
Holloway doubled the advantage midway through the middle period on a rebound
off his own shot from the right circle.
The Americans pulled Cooley with 2:22 left in the third before Brown and Crosby
finished the scoring with a couple of empty-net goals.
In their most-recent matchup at the worlds, Canada won 4-2 in the semifinals in
2021 and went on to capture gold. The U.S. took bronze.
Matthew Tkachuk lost a chance to become the first American in hockey's Triple
Gold Club. He won the Stanley Cup back-to-back with the Florida Panthers and
claimed the Olympic gold in Milan.
"In the third period we played really, really good and their goalie made some
incredible saves," Tkachuk said. "They ultimately were better for most of the
game and so deserved to win."
Led by the teenage captain Celebrini, Canada is powered by an NHL-laden roster
with established forwards such as Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly. The Canadians
cruised through the preliminary stage with seven wins and topped their group.
The Americans had a much younger, less-experienced team and only made the last
eight by beating Austria 4-1 in the final group-stage game.
Finland advances
In Zurich, Finland reached the semifinals with a 4-1 victory over Czechia in a
game between the 2022 and 2024 champions, respectively.
Finland was 2-0 up after the opening period on goals from Sakari Manninen and
Anton Lundell. In the second, Konsta Helenius made it 3-0 before Filip Hronek
scored for the Czechs on a two-man advantage. Lenni Hameenaho closed out the
scoring in the third.
In the remaining quarterfinals later Thursday, host Switzerland played Sweden,
and Latvia faced Norway.
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AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
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