photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Andre Ringuette
The last time Slovakia beat Canada in an Ice Hockey World Championship was in 2012 when they sent them packing in the quarterfinal, 4-3, in Helsinki. Since then, Canada had won the last three games between the teams in 2022, 2023, and 2024, with a 13-5 goal difference.
In Stockholm, Canada took their fourth straight win, 7-0.
Sidney Crosby scored two and added two assists, Macklin Celebrini collected three points for Canada; Jordan Binnington recorded a 14-save shutout.
“It’s a good feeling, we got a shutout, a lot of goals. Binnington made a few big stops when he had to. This was a more complete game from us, and we're getting more comfortable with the systems," Canada's Ryan O'Reilly said.
Slovakia defended bravely in the first period, but with Canada having possession in the Slovak zone most of the time, it was only a matter of time before they’d find the back of the net and with about five minutes remaining in the period, it happened.
Two quick passes by Crosby and Travis Konency sent the puck to Brandon Montour, who simply had to one-time it into a practically empty Slovak net at 14.44.
“Team Canada is an incredible team, I told the guys during the second period to just enjoy the game and the fact we get to play against players like Crosby and MacKinnon. We had a couple of chances, but you have to bury every one of them against a team like this,” said Slovakia's Pavol Regenda.
Team Canada doubled their lead 64 seconds later. Ryker Evans carried the puck into Slovakia’s zone and dropped it to Tyson Foerster who took a step in and using the Slovak defensemen as a screen, fired a snapshot. When Rybar realized where the puck was, it was too late. Canada had a 2-0 lead, with 4.12 remaining in the first period.
Slovakia had their share of chances early in the second period, on power play, but Binnington wouldn’t allow anything past him. After Canada had killed off the penalty, they got back to work with scoring more goals
Macklin Celebrini spun away from a Slovak defenseman and passed the puck to Crosby who immediately redirected it to Montour on the blueline. He fired a slap shot, and Rybar made the save, but Celebrini grabbed the rebound and sent a no-look pass behind his back to Crosby who fired the puck into an empty net from a sharp angle to make it 3-0 at 3.25.
Slovakia had only three shots on goal in the period, and just one in the last 15 minutes of it. To be fair, Slovakia had a few chances, but they either missed the net or whiffed on the puck.
With two minutes remaining Canada struck again. Konecny won a puck battle in the corner, found Crosby behind the net and number 87 immediately delivered it to Celebrini in front of the net. Result: 4-0 at 18.08.
Nathan MacKinnon made it 5-0 before the period was over when his cross-ice pass hit a Slovak stick in the slot, and the puck got deflected into the net just 61 second before the end of the period.
Adam Huska was in Slovakia’s goal at the start of the third period.
He couldn’t stop Crosby, either. Seven minutes into the period, Crosby sent a beautiful saucer pass to Noah Dobson on the blueline, and he returned the favor by sending just as gorgeous pass to the net which Crosby redirected in to make it 6-0.
“When you’re playing with Crosby, you get to appreciate [him] more, and see how much he does. When you’re playing against him, you’re more worried what he's going to do. It’s nice to be on the more relaxing side and see how good he is, and those little touches. Tonight some of those goals, they were incredible plays, and the play-making ability, it’s the reason he’s the best player in the world. It’s just impressive,” said O'Reilly
Nathan MacKinnon scored his second of the night – and Canada’s seventh – 90 seconds later. He drove to the net, avoided Huska’s poke check and sealed the final score with a backhander at 8.34.
“It's not going to get easier for us, Finland and Sweden are two great teams, and it’ll be a good challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it,” O'Reilly said.
In Stockholm, Canada took their fourth straight win, 7-0.
Sidney Crosby scored two and added two assists, Macklin Celebrini collected three points for Canada; Jordan Binnington recorded a 14-save shutout.
“It’s a good feeling, we got a shutout, a lot of goals. Binnington made a few big stops when he had to. This was a more complete game from us, and we're getting more comfortable with the systems," Canada's Ryan O'Reilly said.
Slovakia defended bravely in the first period, but with Canada having possession in the Slovak zone most of the time, it was only a matter of time before they’d find the back of the net and with about five minutes remaining in the period, it happened.
Two quick passes by Crosby and Travis Konency sent the puck to Brandon Montour, who simply had to one-time it into a practically empty Slovak net at 14.44.
“Team Canada is an incredible team, I told the guys during the second period to just enjoy the game and the fact we get to play against players like Crosby and MacKinnon. We had a couple of chances, but you have to bury every one of them against a team like this,” said Slovakia's Pavol Regenda.
Team Canada doubled their lead 64 seconds later. Ryker Evans carried the puck into Slovakia’s zone and dropped it to Tyson Foerster who took a step in and using the Slovak defensemen as a screen, fired a snapshot. When Rybar realized where the puck was, it was too late. Canada had a 2-0 lead, with 4.12 remaining in the first period.
Slovakia had their share of chances early in the second period, on power play, but Binnington wouldn’t allow anything past him. After Canada had killed off the penalty, they got back to work with scoring more goals
Macklin Celebrini spun away from a Slovak defenseman and passed the puck to Crosby who immediately redirected it to Montour on the blueline. He fired a slap shot, and Rybar made the save, but Celebrini grabbed the rebound and sent a no-look pass behind his back to Crosby who fired the puck into an empty net from a sharp angle to make it 3-0 at 3.25.
Slovakia had only three shots on goal in the period, and just one in the last 15 minutes of it. To be fair, Slovakia had a few chances, but they either missed the net or whiffed on the puck.
With two minutes remaining Canada struck again. Konecny won a puck battle in the corner, found Crosby behind the net and number 87 immediately delivered it to Celebrini in front of the net. Result: 4-0 at 18.08.
Nathan MacKinnon made it 5-0 before the period was over when his cross-ice pass hit a Slovak stick in the slot, and the puck got deflected into the net just 61 second before the end of the period.
Adam Huska was in Slovakia’s goal at the start of the third period.
He couldn’t stop Crosby, either. Seven minutes into the period, Crosby sent a beautiful saucer pass to Noah Dobson on the blueline, and he returned the favor by sending just as gorgeous pass to the net which Crosby redirected in to make it 6-0.
“When you’re playing with Crosby, you get to appreciate [him] more, and see how much he does. When you’re playing against him, you’re more worried what he's going to do. It’s nice to be on the more relaxing side and see how good he is, and those little touches. Tonight some of those goals, they were incredible plays, and the play-making ability, it’s the reason he’s the best player in the world. It’s just impressive,” said O'Reilly
Nathan MacKinnon scored his second of the night – and Canada’s seventh – 90 seconds later. He drove to the net, avoided Huska’s poke check and sealed the final score with a backhander at 8.34.
“It's not going to get easier for us, Finland and Sweden are two great teams, and it’ll be a good challenge for us, but we’re looking forward to it,” O'Reilly said.
Canada vs Slovakia - 2025 IIHF WM
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