Canada can continue hoping to qualify for the knockout rounds.
Image: Keystone
Sweden and Canada, two big hockey nations fearing for the quarter-finals at the World Cup in Riga, kept their chances by winning favorites on Friday.
Group B
Kazakhstan 2-4 Canada
After a historically poor start, Canada secured a second consecutive win at the Ice Hockey World Championship thus retaining a quarter-final chance. The Canadians beat a surprisingly strong climber Kazakhstan 4-2. “Maple Leaves” took the lead twice, but the Kazakhs always remained and were tied twice. Cole Perfetti achieved the game winning goal of 3:2 in the 48th minute. 4:2 Fell just before the end in an empty goal by Conor Brown.
Canada has never been in the top 8 in a World Cup or Olympic Games in its history. The Canadiens also need to win the last two preliminary round games against Italy and Finland to reach the quarter-finals.
Kazakhstan – Canada 2:4 (0:1, 1:1, 1:2)
Riga, Arena. – SR Romasko/Sidorenko (RUS/BLR), Goljak/Lasarev (BLR/RUS).
tore off: 7. Mangiapen (Henrik, Brown / Exclusion Shevchenko) 0: 1. 22. Heinrich (Power, Mangiapen) 0-2. 25. Michaelis 1: 2. 42. Michaelis (Walk, Savizki) 2: 2. 48. Parfetti (Anderson-Dolan) 2: 3. 60. (59:57) Brown (Heinrich) 2: 4 (in goal).
Punishment: 5 times 2 minutes against Kazakhstan, 1 time 2 minutes against Canada.
Comments: Kazakhstan shoots with Kumper in target, with Canada. Kazakhstan from 58:45 to 59:57 without a goalkeeper. – Timeout: Kazakhstan (59:46); Canada (59:16).
Group A
Sweden – Great Britain 4-1
In Swiss Group A, former world champions Sweden beat outsiders Great Britain 4–1 for their second victory. Like the Canadians, the Swedes must continue to tremble to make it to the knockout rounds.
Liam Kirk, 21, of the Sheffield Steelers made an unusual side note. He was credited with the British opening goal, meaning Kirk has already scored five goals in the World Cup. With Kirk, for the first time in history, an Englishman is leading the goalscorer ratings at the ice hockey world championships, at least temporarily.
Sweden – Great Britain 4:1 (1:1, 2:0, 1:0)
Riga, Olympic Sports Center. – SR Ansons / Vikman (LAT / FIN), Nikulainen / Sunde (FIN / LAT).
tore off: 8. Cancer (Phillips) 0:1. 16. Sorensen (Olofsson, Tomernes/Oshklas Connolly) 1: 1. 27. Puda (Pilut, Wingerly) 2: 1. 33. Mario Kempe (Sorensen) 3: 1. 53. Mario Kempe (Sorensen) 4:1.
Punishment: 0 times 2 minutes against Sweden, 4 times 2 minutes against Great Britain.
Comments: Sweden with the fast, Great Britain with the bow in the goal. (EX/SDA)
