2017-18 National Men's Team

CANADA TOPS HOSTS FOR SECOND WORLDS WIN

JESSICA GOWANS

HERNING, Denmark – Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby, B.C./Edmonton, NHL) scored twice, Connor McDavid (Newmarket, Ont./Edmonton, NHL) added three assists and Canada’s National Men’s Team cruised to a 7-1 over Denmark on Monday at the 2018 IIHF World Championship.

It was another offence-heavy performance from Canada; Josh Bailey (Bowmanville, Ont./New York Islanders, NHL) had a goal and an assist, Mathew Barzal (Coquitlam, B.C./New York Islanders, NHL) and Brayden Schenn (Saskatoon, Sask./St. Louis, NHL) had a pair of helpers each, and 13 skaters recorded at least a point.

For the second game in a row, Canada took an early lead. Bailey took a Barzal pass and wired it home from the slot for a power-play goal at 8:25 of the first period, and Aaron Ekblad (Belle River, Ont./Florida, NHL), scored what turned out to be the game-winner less than three minutes later on a rocket from the point.

Three goals in three minutes put the game out of reach in the second period. Jordan Eberle (Regina, Sask./New York Islanders, NHL) was first, corralling a McDavid rebound and roofing it home on the power play at 4:16.

Bailey fed a gorgeous cross-ice pass to Ryan O’Reilly (Varna, Ont./Buffalo, NHL), who made no mistake and tucked it past Danish netminder Sebastian Dahm at 6:53, and Nugent-Hopkins added the 5-0 goal just 24 seconds after that.

Nugent-Hopkins cleaned up a scramble in front of the net for his second of the game seven minutes into the third period, before Tyson Jost (Kelowna, B.C./Colorado, NHL) finished off the scoring for Canada with under two minutes left.

Curtis McElhinney (London, Ont./Toronto, NHL) was nearly perfect for the second game in a row, finishing with 14 saves. Only a shot through traffic by Jesper Jensen Aabo midway through the third period spoiled the shutout.

Canada has a two-day break, and will be back in action looking for its third win in a row Thursday against Norway (2:15 p.m. ET/11:15 a.m. PT).