Canada wasted no time showing their prowess as they kicked off the ice hockey world championship with a resounding 4-0 victory over Slovenia, a team competing at this level for the first time. In Stockholm, Sweden, Bo Horvat led the Canadian charge by finding the net twice on power plays, while Nathan MacKinnon contributed significantly with a goal and two assists. Noah Dobson also scored during a power play, demonstrating Canada’s depth on special teams. Dylan Garand fortified Canada’s defense by stopping all 11 shots he faced from Slovenia during this Group A match.
Horvat set the tone early, lighting up the scoreboard with a precise one-timer from the left circle a little over seven minutes into the first period. The second period saw a surge from Canada as they piled on three more goals, overwhelming Slovenia 22-3 in shots. MacKinnon, eager to make an impact after joining from the Colorado Avalanche post-NHL playoffs, slipped one past the Slovenian goalie Lukas Horak early in the frame, doubling Canada’s lead. Horvat added another to his tally before Dobson capped off the period’s scoring spree, cementing a commanding 4-0 edge.
The Canadian team, renowned for its historic success in the championship with 28 titles, is highly favored to clinch another victory this year, particularly with powerhouses like MacKinnon and captain Sidney Crosby on their roster. After finishing fourth last year, the team’s performance suggests they are poised and ready to reclaim glory, potentially securing their third title in five years.
Meanwhile, an equally thrilling contest unfolded as Sweden mounted a late rally to edge past Austria 4-2, narrowly securing victory in Sweden’s capital. Mika Zibanejad emerged as the hero for Sweden by netting two crucial goals, while Jonas Brodin and Alexander Wennberg each scored to complete the comeback. Sweden, trailing 2-1 late in the final period, took a calculated risk by withdrawing their goalie Samuel Ersson for an extra attacker, which paid off when Brodin tied the game with a powerful slap shot from the blue line.
Stunningly, just 12 seconds later, Zibanejad capitalized on an opportunity to break the deadlock and adding another goal from Wennberg into an empty net sealed Austria’s fate. Austria, who had lost narrowly to Finland the previous day, demonstrated grit but ultimately fell short.
In Herning, Denmark, Switzerland rebounded from their opening overtime loss to the Czech Republic by defeating host Denmark 5-2. The Swiss were led by captain Nico Hischier and Tyler Moy, each contributing two goals and an assist. Damien Riat also added a goal, ensuring the Swiss bounced back strongly. Denmark saw Oscar Moelgaard and Joachim Blichfeld score in their second consecutive defeat.
On the same day in Group B, Germany confidently dispatched Hungary, another newcomer, with a decisive 6-1 win, following Kazakhstan’s narrow 2-1 victory over Norway. Further north in Stockholm, Latvia commenced their campaign with a 4-1 triumph over France in the opening matchup.