Canada, USA, Finland win in final tune up ahead of Thursday's knockout round
ByEvan Milner @CanadiensMTL / canadiens.com
MONTREAL - Five Canadiens players and prospects were in action on the final day of preliminary round play at the 2023 IIHF World Championship on Tuesday.
The United States clinched first place in Group A courtesy of Dylan Samberg's overtime winner and finished the group stage undefeated for the first time ever at the World Championship.
Lane Hutson gave the U.S. a two-goal cushion as time winded down in the second period. The 19-year-old stripped Timothy Liljegren of the puck at the blue line, broke free and lasered a snapshot past Lars Johansson for his second of the tournament.
Hutson totaled five shots on goal in 11:32 of ice time and finished the game plus-1.
His teammate and fellow Habs prospect Sean Farrell played 14 minutes for the Americans.
Luke Tuch did not play for the U.S.
CANADA 3 - 1 CZECHIA
One day after dropping a decision to Norway, Canada returned to form in a strong showing against Czechia. Peyton Krebs, Tyler Myers and Lawson Crouse found twine for the Canadians, who, with the win, secured second place in Group B.
Sam Montembeault made 16 saves for Team Canada, posting his fourth win in as many starts.
Justin Barron, listed as the team's seventh defenseman, was used sparingly against the Czechs.
FINLAND 7 - 1 DENMARK
Denmark's tournament ended in a 7-1 loss to Finland.
Joel Armia was held without a point but recorded four shots on goal in 14:34 of playing time.
Frederik Dichow did not dress for the Danes.
The Habs hopeful, who was injured mid-tournament, finished the championship with a 2.30 goals-against average and .910 save percentage in five games.
Coming up
The quarterfinal matchups are set for Thursday in Tampere, Finland and Riga, Latvia:
QF1: United States (Farrell, Hutson and Tuch) vs. Czechia at 9:20 a.m. ET at Nokia Arena.
QF2:Switzerland vs. Germany at 9:20 a.m. ET at Arena Riga.
QF3:Canada (Barron and Montembeault) vs Finland (Armia) at 1:20 p.m. ET at Nokia Arena.
QF4:Sweden vs Latvia at 1:20 p.m. ET at Arena Riga.
