World Championship Recap - 12.05.25

Dan Vladar marked his first World Championships appearance with an assist and a win, while centre Sam Honzek scored his first senior goal at a major IIHF tournament during a busy Monday of action in Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark.

Vladar turned aside 29 shots in Czechia's 7-2 win over Denmark, Honzek helped spur on a Slovak comeback that fell short in a shootout, while Flames veterans Mikael Backlund and Rasmus Andersson helped Sweden slip past rival Finland in the nightcap at Avicii Arena.

Czechia 7, Denmark 2

Vladar ran out a winner - and earned an assist on the deciding goal - in his World Championship debut, making 29 saves as the Czechs dumped the Danes 7-2.

Czechia broke the game open in the second period, scoring four times over a 13-minute span. Avalanche star Martin Necas and Bruins sniper David Pastrnak were among the goal-getters, with Pastrnak's highlight-reel marker standing out as the game-winner.

Nick Olesen got Denmark on the board with just over a minute remaining in the middle stanza.

Necas added his second - and Czechia's fifth - goal of the game four and a half minutes into period three, and the Czechs never looked back, jumping to the top of Group B with eight points.

Vladar's busiest period was the third, during which he turned aside 11 shots. The contest marked his first appearance at a major IIHF tournament since the 2017 World Juniors in Canada.

Pastrnak and fellow forward Lukas Sedlak each finished the game with a goal and two assists.

Flames forward Adam Klapka did not dress.

Slovakia 2, Austria 3 (SO)

Slovakia were forced to settle for a point Monday, but they remained in fourth place in Group A following a shootout setback versus Austria.

The Austrians jumped out to a 2-0 first-period lead, but Honzek kick-started the Slovak comeback 6:15 into the second period. The Flames first-rounder forced a turnover at the goalline, then quickly spun to the bottom of the right circle and snapped the puck past netminder David Kickert.

The goal was Honzek's first with the Slovak men's national team at a major IIHF tournament.

Slovakia tied the game at 2-2 midway through period three on a tally from captain Matus Sukel, but Austrian forward Peter Schneider - who had a goal and an assist in the opening frame - put home the decider in the fifth round of the shootout.

Honzek finished Monday's contest with 11:33 of ice-time and two shots on goal.

Sweden 2, Finland 1

Sweden used home ice to their full advantage against their bitter rivals from Finland, earning a 2-1 victory in Stockholm.

The Swedes outshot the Finns 33-8 over the first 40 minutes, going ahead on a first-period tally from Anaheim forward Leo Carlsson, before Minnesota blueliner Jonas Brodin put home the eventual game-winner at the 7:23 mark of period two.

Harri Pesonen clawed one back for Finland with 6:54 left on the clock.

Flames captain Mikael Backlund went 10-14 in the faceoff dot, finishing the contest with four shots on goal.

Rasmus Andersson - the Swedish captain - had one shot on target of his own, while more than seven minutes of his 17:58 of ice-time came in the middle stanza.

Sweden now sits three points up on Canada for the top spot in Group A, though the Canadians will get a chance to get back on even terms Tuesday.

Only one of the four World Championships contests slated for Tuesday will have Flames flavour to it.

MacKenzie Weegar, Ryan Huska and Team Canada seek a third straight win to start the tournament when they face France at 12:20 p.m. MT.