Worlds Update: May 21

With first place in Group A on the line, Team Canada was victorious Tuesday at the IIHF World Championship.

Canada scored two 1st period goals and a 2nd period goal before coasting to a 3-0 win over Team USA in the seventh and final preliminary game for both teams. The victory gives Team Canada a first place finish in Group A with a 6-0-0-1 record; Canada dropped a 3-1 game to Finland in its opener and since reeled off six straight wins.

Troy Stecher was held off the scoresheet, as was Quinn Hughes. Thatcher Demko backed up Cory Schneider.
Canada will face Team Switzerland when the Quarterfinals begin Thursday. The two did not meet in preliminary play.
The loss moves Team USA down to fourth in Group A, meaning a Quaterfinals game against Team Russia - redhot Team Russia as you'll read below.
Meanwhile the second powerhouse match-up of the day featured Sweden and Russia with first place in Group B on the line. Team Russia proved it is not to be messed with.
Team Sweden opened the scoring in the 1st period and yes, Elias Pettersson was in on it.

That was the only highlight for Sweden in the opening 40 minutes as the Russians beat Jacob Markstrom six times in the 2nd, en route to a 7-4 win.
The Swedes outscored the Russians 3-1 in the 3rd, but it was too little, too late. Pettersson picked up another assist, while Loui Eriksson was held off the scoresheet and Markstrom finished with 27 saves in his second appearance of the tournament.

Sweden finishes third in Group B with a 5-0-0-2 record and will face Finland, the second place team from Group A, in Quarterfinals action Thursday. They also did not meet in the preliminary round.