Cozens OT goal lifts Canada to top spot in group play at men’s hockey worlds | CBC Sports

Dylan Cozens says he’s having a blast at the world hockey championship, and his enthusiasm is showing up on the scoresheet.

Cozens scored his second goal of the game short-handed in overtime as Canada held on for a 4-3 win over host Czech Republic on Tuesday in Prague.

That gave the Buffalo Sabres forward from Whitehorse a tournament-leading eight goals in seven games as Canada finished the preliminary round in top spot in Group A with 19 points on five regulation wins and two overtime victories

“I am having a lot of fun here. This is some of the most fun hockey I have ever played and the best atmosphere I have ever played in,” Cozens said. “The fans here are incredible and the crowds have been amazing every game, so I am really enjoying this experience.”

Cozens scored the winner when he pounced on a turnover in the Canadian zone and advanced into Czech Republic’s end.

His pass intended for Colton Parayko was broken up, but he regained possession of the puck and poked a backhand past sprawling Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal.

WATCH | Cozens continues strong play with pair of goals against Czechs:

Canada will face Slovakia in Thursday’s quarterfinals at 10:20 a.m. ET.

“The mood in the room is great right now, and tonight was a heck of a game,” Canada head coach Andre Tourigny said. “There was no time or space, both teams were working really hard and both teams were patient.”

The Czechs had a chance to take over top spot in the group but ended with 16 points. Switzerland moved past the hosts into second place later Tuesday with a 3-1 win over Finland that gave it 17 points and will meet Germany in the quarters at 10:20 a.m.

Dawson Mercer and Brandon Hagel had Canada’s other goals, while Jordan Binnington made 19 saves.

‘We are excited for the medal round’

“This was a great way to finish off the preliminary round,” Mercer said. “Playing the home team, obviously we knew the energy in the building was going to be incredible, and to get the win in overtime and finish at the top of the standings is huge for our group.

“We are excited for the medal round, and now we need to get ready for the quarterfinals.”

Dominik Kubalik, Ondrej Palat and Roman Cervenka scored for the Czechs, who got 22 saves from Dostal.

Cervenka scored with one minute 49 seconds remaining as Canada and Czechia combined for five goals over the last 11 minutes of regulation.

Cozens opened the scoring on a power play just over a minute into the final period.

Kubalik tied it at 9:11 of the third on a power play, then Canada appeared to take control as goals from Mercer and Hagel put the defending champions up 3-1 with four minutes 18 seconds left to play.

Cervenka forces OT

But with Mercer in the penalty box for tripping, the hosts got a goal back when Palat scored with Dostal on the bench for an extra attacker.

Cervenka sent the game to overtime when he scored with an extra attacker less than two minutes later.

Pierre-Luc Dubois was called for holding early in the overtime period, and it looked like another late penalty might sink Canada. But Cozens pulled his teammates out of danger with his second short-handed goal of the tournament.

“There is no quit in this team,” Cozens said. “Even when [the Czechs] tied [the game], we did not give up. We were short-handed, but we played for each other and found a way to win, and that is what we do as Canadians.”

Boston star David Pastrnak was making his tournament debut with the hosts after the Bruins were eliminated by Florida in the second round of the NHL playoffs. He was held off the scoresheet.

WATCH: Canada stays perfect with Sunday win over Switzerland:

Canada rallies past Switzerland to stay perfect at men’s hockey worlds

Nick Paul’s winner lifts Canada to a 3-2 win over Switzerland and earns their sixth straight win at the men’s world hockey championship.

Americans defeat Latvia

The United States finished second in Group B after beating Latvia 6-3 in their final preliminary game highlighted by Cole Caufield’s two goals and two assists.

Brady Tkatchuk, Matt Boldy and Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist each, and Joel Farabee also scored.

The Americans will play the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 2:20 p.m. ET.

Latvia, last year’s bronze medalist, was eliminated.

Group B winner Sweden will meet Finland next, also at 2:20 p.m.

Britain tops Austria for 1st win

Britain rallied past Austria 4-2 for its first win at the ice hockey world championship.

The victory came after six straight losses for Britain, which finished bottom in Group A with three points and had been already relegated after one year in the top division.

Austria needed to win the game in regulation to retain a chance of qualifying for the playoff round for the first time since 1994.

Germany completed Group B with a 6-3 win over France to move to the second place with 15 points, two more than the United States. The Americans had already advanced to the next round.