Canada edges U.S. in pool play at world junior hockey championships

Canada's Max Domi reacts after scoring an empty-net goal to help Canada secure a 5-3 win in pool play over the U.S. at the junior world championships on Wednesday.

By Associated Press

Dec. 31, 2014 8:15 PM PT

MONTREAL — Arizona Coyotes prospect Max Domi scored two empty-net goals to help Canada beat the United States, 5-3, on Wednesday in hockey’s junior world championships.

Captain Curtis Lazar, Josh Morrissey and Sam Reinhart also scored for Canada in front of a Bell Centre crowd of 18,295. The Canadians finished 4-0 in round-robin play in Group A to advance to a quarterfinal in Toronto against Denmark, the fourth-place team in Group B.

“I thought we had good flow,” Lazar said. “Give credit to the Americans. They made it quite interesting at the end. I was freaking out a bit, but we found a way to win in the end.”

Canada led 3-2 late in the third when Domi scored into an empty net. Dylan Larkin, with his second of the game, got one back for the U.S., and Domi had another empty-netter with 5 seconds left.

Anthony DeAngelo also scored for the U.S. (2-1-1), which finished second in the pool and will stay in Montreal to play Russia — the third-place team in Group B.

“That atmosphere in Montreal was outstanding,” U.S. Coach Mark Osiecki said. “They’ve treated our team incredibly well and this kind of environment was fun to play in.”

In Group B in Toronto, Oskar Lindblom scored three goals and Sweden beat Switzerland 5-1 to finish round-robin play 4-0. Jens Looke and Adrian Kempe also scored and Maple Leafs draft pick William Nylander had three assists. Sweden had four power-play goals.

In the quarterfinals, Sweden will play defending champion Finland in Toronto. Finland beat Germany 2-0 in the late game in Montreal to advance. Julius Honka and Mikko Rantanen scored for Finland.

Patrik Zdrahal scored twice in the Czech Republic’s 4-1 victory over Russia. The Czech Republic will play Slovakia in Montreal.