Emmitt Finnie tipped a Morgan Rielly shot past Slovenia at 6:41 of the third period and Canada stayed on top of Group B with a 3-1 victory Friday at the BCF Arena in Fribourg.
Denton Mateychuk opened the scoring for Canada midway through the first period and Dylan Cozens added a second in the second frame. Finnie’s redirected shot provided breathing room early in the third; Rozle Bohnic scored late for Slovenia but the game never truly tightened after that. Canada finished the night having outshot Slovenia 32-14, and goaltender Jet Greaves made 12 saves to protect the lead.
The result kept Canada on track as a top seed contender in Group B. The win mattered for more than pride: teams earn three points for a regulation victory, two for an overtime win and one for an overtime loss, and those points determine which four teams from each group advance to the knockout round. Canada entered Friday’s game with only one blemish, a 6-5 overtime loss to Norway on Thursday, so the regulation victory preserved the maximum three points and the team’s place near the top of the championship standings.
After the final horn, Finnie said his role with this national group has been different from what he’s used to but that he’s focused on working hard and staying confident. His presence on the scoresheet drew steady praise from veteran John Tavares, who noted Finnie isn’t always taking a regular shift but is soaking up the experience and contributing when asked. Tavares said he was pleased Finnie got on the board and was named the team’s best player, and added that the group played with better connection than in their previous outing even if they could have finished more scoring chances.
The rest of Friday’s schedule produced a mix of expected results and momentum swings elsewhere in the tournament. Finland remained undefeated with a 5-0 shutout of Great Britain, outshooting the visitors 47-9 while Joonas Korpisalo posted the clean sheet. Germany earned its first win of the tournament by beating Hungary, outshooting them 37-12; Leon Gawanke completed a hat trick in the third period and Marc Michaelis finished the night with three assists.
Italy continued to search for a first victory after a loss to Sweden, leaving the Azzurri still without a win as the preliminary round moves into the weekend. Those results reshuffle immediate odds inside each group: Finland’s shutout reinforced its position as a contender, Germany’s late offensive burst snapped a two-game slide, and Italy’s loss deepened pressure on a team that must climb fast to keep a path to the knockout stage.
There is tension beneath the tidy box scores. Canada’s regulation victory erased a blemish on paper but not the memory of an overtime scare against Norway, and a win against Slovenia did not cure the team’s desire for cleaner finishes. Tavares’ comments about shifts and roles underline an internal balancing act: blending established stars with players in new or limited roles while preserving control over games and accumulating regulation points.
What comes next is clear and immediate. Canada is scheduled to face Slovakia on Sunday in what amounts to a battle of unbeaten teams and a likely decider for Group B’s top seed. With only the top four in each group moving on to the knockout round, that matchup will carry outsized weight for the championship standings and for the teams’ paths into the elimination phase.
