<p>Only two days remain in the round-robin portion of the IIHF Men’s World Hockey Championship, and it’s definitely coming down to the wire after wins for Canada, USA, Austria and Latvia.</p>



<p>Over in Ostrava, USA had no issue beating Kazakhstan 10-1. The Americans were dominant from the get-go, giving Kazakhstan very little room to play. Matt Boldy led the way with six points, with the Americans becoming the only team this year to put up double-digit goals at the World Championship. </p>



<p>The late Group B game was tight, with Latvia and Slovakia playing it close from the get-go. In the end, Latvia took home the 3-2 shootout victory to close out the weekend after scoring the game-tying goal with under a minute to go.</p>



<p>In Prague, Austria moved themselves into fourth place in Group A with a 4-1 win over Norway, putting the Norwegians in a must-win spot against Great Britain on Monday to avoid relegation. In the later game, Canada was led by Dylan Cozens, who scored two goals en route to a 3-2 victory that was dominated by power-play goals.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="183"></div>



<p>With the win, Canada is now first place in Group A with 17 points, two clear of Czechia ahead of their big bout on Tuesday to decide the top spot. Switzerland is in third, with Austria, Finland (both with seven points) and Denmark (six points) challenging for the final playoff spot. In Group B, Sweden will finish the round-robin with two games in hopes of staying perfect atop Group B. USA, Germany and Slovakia hold the other playoff spots, while Latvia will not be able to pass Slovakia on points due to the Slovaks having the head-to-head edge.</p>



<p>Here’s a look at Sunday’s top players with just time counting down in the hunt to make the playoffs: </p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Canada</h2>



<p><strong>#22 Dylan Cozens, C (Buffalo Sabres)</strong>: Cozens has really heated up in the last few games, finding himself in important scoring areas. He scored the ice-breaker early on the power play and nearly converted on a 2-on-1 a few minutes later. Cozens was needed by Kevin Fiala early in the second, but managed to score a goal and an assist on the ensuing man advantage to make it a three-point first half. He was just flying out there at all strengths, even making noise as a shot blocker on the penalty kill. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="211"></div>



<p><strong>#88 Andrew Mangiapane, RW (Calgary Flames):</strong> Mangiapane was a master of getting the puck where it needed to be in the first half, registering there assists. He just seemed to connect on every opportunity in open ice, with this period looking like his run from the 2021 World Championship when he couldn’t be stopped. I loved the way he moved the puck with Cozens, in particular.</p>



<p><strong>#91 John Tavares, C (Toronto Maple Leafs):</strong> It was another multi-point game for Tavares, who helped glue together the team’s power play. He had a pair of assists, including the first chance that ultimately resulted in Cozens’ 1-0 goal. Given that he has some high-quality teammates in Toronto to pass on to on the PP, it’s easy to understand why he’s good in open space. </p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Switzerland</h2>



<p><strong>#90 Roman Josi, D (Nashville Predators): </strong>Holy moly, that stick save near the end of the first period was massive. It helped ensure Canada wouldn’t take a 2-1 lead, just saving the puck from crossing over the goal line. He kept his streak of points in every game alive, though, after assisting on Fiala’s 1-1 goal.</p>



<p><strong>#63 Leonardo Genoni, G: </strong>He allowed three goals, but all of them came on Canada’s power plays. Beyond that, Genoni made some big stops, including a pair off his head. Canada kept him busy but, like we’ve seen from him all tournament, Genoni looked fresh and controlled in the crease, rarely chasing after pucks.</p>



<p><em>By Steven Ellis</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">USA</h2>



<p><strong>#29 Brock Nelson, C (New York Islanders)</strong>: With his first-period goal, Nelson is now tied for first all-time on USA with Russell Johnson with 19. Nelson also had an assist on the first goal after his shot went off the post and onto the stick of Matt Boldy, who made no mistake into the empty net. When the top line is flying, they’re unstoppable.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="177"></div>



<p><strong>#12 Matt Boldy, RW (Minnesota Wild): </strong>Boldy had two goals and four assists in an unbelievable game for the high-scoring winger. From the get-go, Boldy has established himself as a legitimate threat for tournament MVP honors because he keeps capitalizing on open space. He’s one of the best shooters in the tournament, now sitting at six goals with one game left to play in the round-robin.</p>



<p><strong>#7 Brady Tkachuk, LW (Ottawa Senators)</strong>: It’s hard to go wrong with three goals and an assist. Tkachuk was too much to handle for the Kazakhs in front of their own net, banging home rebounds and taking lanes away. You know, the stuff he does. Tkachuk has been one of USA’s most important players as expected, with him and Boldy tying for first in tournament scoring after their game.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="135"></div>



<p><strong>#13</strong> <strong>Johnny Gaudreau</strong>, <strong>LW (Columbus Blue Jackets): </strong>Gaudreau had two assists in the first period alone, helping to set up Werenski at the point for both of Tkachuk’s goals. He’s now the all-time American points record-holder after registering his 43rd point in five years, surpassing Patrick Kane. It goes to show you how Gaudreau has risen up to the occasion at this tournament over his five showings. He’s been a big piece of the top line’s success.</p>



<p><strong>#8 Zach Werenski, D (Columbus Blue Jackets):</strong> Werenski had two shots get knocked in by Tkachuk in the first period, helping to start the blowout early. Werenski was just seeing the ice so well, waiting until he found open lanes down the middle to attempt his shots. He’s been USA’s smartest defenseman, keeping things calm on the blueline and a three-point game is all you can ask for.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="145"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Kazakhstan</h2>



<p><strong>#5 Oleg Boiko, C:</strong> Yeah, not huge pickings here. But Boiko was actually good in the faceoff dot and played reliable defense. I noticed him more than anyone else on Kazakhstan for actual positive value on the ice.</p>



<p><em>By Steven Ellis</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Austria</h2>



<p><strong>#3 Peter Schneider, RW</strong>: Schneider’s two goals helped spark the Austrian win in similar fashion to when he helped lead the charge in the comeback effort against Canada. Schneider’s shot is just powerful, allowing him to blast it far away and still getting an accurate result. Schneider has been great, no question about it.</p>



<p><strong>#23 Marco Rossi, C (Minnesota Wild):</strong> How about Rossi? He had three assists as he helped set up all there second-period goals in easily his best game with the men’s team. It was important because Austria is still in the playoff hunt, and they needed their lone NHLer to step up in a way he hasn’t just yet.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="6" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="153"></div>



<p><strong>#30 David Kickert, G: </strong>The Austrians needed to win the goalie battle to win the game and Kickert did just that. He wasn’t too busy early on but he was sharp, focused and quick all night long. Kickert has been good in this tournament, so this isn’t a surprise.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Norway</h2>



<p><strong>#33 Henrik Haukeland, G: </strong>There wasn’t much more Haukeland could have done out there. Two goals came with a man advantage, and the shots were pretty solid, too. Haukeland didn’t get enough defensive support around the crease and, as always, you can’t win when you don’t score. So Haukeland a good enough job today, but the pressure is now on for Norway.</p>



<p><strong>#36 Mats Zuccarello, LW (Minnesota Wild):</strong> It didn’t result in much in the end, but Zuccarello’s pass on the 3-1 goal gave the team some late life. Despite Norway getting outclassed, Zuccarello was good with the puck and had a few good chances around the net.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="7" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="157"></div>



<p><em>By Steven Ellis</em></p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Slovakia</h2>



<p><strong>#76 Martin Popisil, C (Calgary Flames): </strong>This man was everywhere on the ice. Whether it was throwing monster hits or contributing offensively, you could find Popisil on the ice engaged in the play in some way. It was a feisty game, with a lot of attitude packed between the two teams in which Popisil thrived. The big Slovak notched his third goal of the tournament to tie the game up at 1-1 in the third period. </p>



<p><strong>#34 Peter Cehlarik, LW:</strong> Cehlarik scored the 2-1 goal after taking the Juraj Slafkovsky feed in front. It was huge, with the former Boston Bruin finding himself in the right spot at the right time. It’s what he does, but that was big.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Latvia</h2>



<p><strong>#29 Ralfs Freibergs, D:</strong> Freibergs opened the scoring in the first period for Latvia on a rip from the point to beat Samuel Hlavaj. That was Freiberg’s second goal in just 57 games representing Latvia throughout the last eight World Championships. The former St. John’s IceCaps defensemen also played a big role defensively, blocking shots and cutting off passes from the Slovak forwards.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="8" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="186"></div>



<p><strong>#27 Oskars Cibulskis, D:</strong> It was the 38-year-old veteran who played hero for Latvia, helping to tie the game up just 15 seconds after Slovakia scored in the dying minutes to force overtime. With an empty net, Cibulskis and the Latvians gained control of the puck in the offensive zone, Cibulskis blasted home a slap shot from the blueline, beating Hlavaj to score. He was named Latvia’s player of the game.</p>



<p><strong>#85 Dans Locmelis, C (Boston Bruins): </strong>Locmelis was the hero for Latvia in the shootout. Locmelis came in with a slow approach but faked out Hvalaj with a toe drag from his forehand and popped home a backhander that trickled by the Slovak netminder, giving Latvia the edge heading into the final shot.</p>



<p><em>By Colton Davies</em></p>



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