Canada vs. Russia final: GOLDEN! Canada comes back, wins gold at 2020 World Juniors

Jackie Spiegel

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Canada vs. Russia final: GOLDEN! Canada comes back, wins gold at 2020 World Juniors image

GOLDEN!

In a display of grit, determination and unwavering confidence in their squad, the Canadians did not fold, they did not give up — they battled. Trailing 3-1 in the third period, they stormed back by tallying three unanswered goals — including a breathtaking backhander by Akil Thomas as he was falling down with 3:58 remaining in the game — to seal the 4-3 win. 

A long-storied rivalry, this one was a no-holds-barred battle from the drop of the puck. Canada had to grind it out as they faced penalty after penalty in the opening frame with its penalty killers blocking shots and clearing the zone. Russia, who back on Dec. 28 handed the Canadians their worst-ever loss in world juniors history with a crushing 6-0 defeat, broke the scoreless affair off a sweet deflection from St. Louis Blues prospect Nikita Alexandrov. Canada's Dylan Cozens tied the game up less than two minutes later, but Russia would go back ahead by two after Grigori Denisenko and Maxim Sorkin scored past Joel Hofer.

Then came the comeback.

CANADA'S GOALS: Cozens' opener | McMichael scores with foot | Hayton's equalizer | Thomas' game-winner

First, Calen Addison took a shot and the Canadians got the lucky break as it deflected off the Russian defender and Connor McMichael's leg to beat Amir Miftakhov. Like Hofer, who stopped 35 of 38 shots, Miftkakhov was stellar in net — stopping 26 of 30 shots — but the bounce that went their way was just what the Canadians needed. Just over two minutes later, captain Barrett Hayton — who many did not expect to play after he left Saturday's game with an arm injury after crashing into the boards and was a game-time decision — put his team on his back and with one rifled shot from the right circle tied the game

Thomas, who had not tallied a goal entering Sunday's game, saved his best for last as he took advantage of a misplay by New Jersey Devils defenseman Danil Misyul in his own end. His goal sent the crowd and the Canadian bench into a tizzy as the comeback was complete. Russia did not muster many chances afterward and the Canadians were IIHF World Junior champions for the 18th time in the nation's history.

The Canadians do have an impressive record when the Czech Republic hosts the tournament. They've medaled every year it has been played there, winning silver in 2002 and now three golds — in 1994 when the tournament was also in Ostrava, 2008 and 2020. With the win over Russia, it marked the fifth time Canada beat the rival in nine games since 1996.

Sporting News had all the action as Canada won gold at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Canada vs. Russia scores, highlights from 2020 World Juniors gold medal game

(All times Eastern.)

Final score: Canada 4, Russia 3

4:05 p.m. — Scenes from the celebration.

3:46 p.m. — Nikita Alexandrov named the player of the game for Russia and Barrett Hayton gets the award for Canada.

Third period: Canada 4, Russia 3

3:42 p.m. — GOLD FOR CANADA!

3:40 p.m. — Grigori Denisenko takes a shot and his stick breaks. He holds onto the broken shaft and tried to play against Foudy. Denisenko called for the penalty and Russia down two men.

3:40 p.m. — Empty net for the Russians.

3:39 p.m. — Will skate 4-on-4 for 44 seconds and then Canada will have an extra man for about 35.

3:38 p.m. — Then with 44 seconds left on the power play, Pavel Dorofeyev knocks the stick out of Liam Foudy's hands and is given an interference penalty (like what Veleno got earlier in the game).

3:37 p.m. — Aidan Dudas' clearing shot goes off the camera and it's not called a delay of game penalty. Russia is obviously irate as the (TSN) camera is behind the glass and there was no call.

3:36 p.m. — Russia not getting much set-up time in the first minute of the power play.

3:35 p.m. — Hofer with the save on Alexander Romanov.

3:33 p.m. — Now, with 2:41 left on the clock, Kevin Bahl gets called for hooking. Russia, after a timeout, will go 6-on-4.

3:30 p.m. — GOAL! Russia's Danil Misyul misplays the puck in his own end above the circles. Akil Thomas gets the loose puck and skates in and while falling roofs the puck on the backhand. An unreal goal for his first goal of the tournament. Canada leads 4-3.

3:28 p.m. — Hayton gets hit along the boards by the penalty box and is in pain on the bench.

3:26 p.m. — Buckle up! Tie game with 5:44 left on the clock.

3:19 p.m. — PP GOAL! Wow! Barrett Hayton! Sitting on the off-wing, he gets the pass in the right circle and rifles the wrister top shelf. Game tied 3-3.

3:18 p.m. — Canada will head to the power play. The Canadians are 1-for-5 in the game with the man advantage.

3:17 p.m. — Hofer stops a point shot through traffic. Under nine minutes remaining.

3:13 p.m. — The goal is reviewed to see if he purposely directed it — but, nope, it's a goal! Back to being a one-goal game.

3:11 p.m. — GOAL! Just 34 seconds after Russia takes a two-goal lead, Connor McMichael has a shot by Calen Addison deflect off his legs and in. Canada trails 3-2.

3:09 p.m. — GOAL. Ilya Kruglov feeds Maxim Sorkin out in front and he buries the shot. His first point of the game. Canada trails 3-1.

3:03 p.m. — Ty Dellandrea cuts to the middle but his shot sails high and wide.

3:02 p.m. — Connor McMichael on a breakaway down the left wing but Amir Miftakhov makes the blocker save.

3:00 p.m. — After a slight delay to fix a net, Canada starts the third period on the power play.

3:00 p.m. —  Second-period shots on goal: Canada 16, Russia 14

Second period: Russia 2, Canada 1

2:40 p.m. — Right at the buzzer, Yegor Zamula cross-checks Barrett Hayton to the face and Canada will start the period on the power play, down by one.

2:38 p.m. — Dylan Cozens had blocked a shot and was in some discomfort on the bench but motions that he's ok. Around the same time, Jacob Bernard-Docker laid down the boom.

2:33 p.m. — Just prior to that goal Liam Foudy had a great chance on a one-timer as he was crashing the net but Amir Miftakhov read the play perfectly.

2:30 p.m. — GOAL. Russia retakes the lead as Joel Hofer takes a shot that sounded like it went off the mask and cannot control the rebound. Grigori Denisenko shoves the puck into the net. Canada trails 2-1.

2:25 p.m. — Canada now on a 5-on-4 but do not score.

2:24 p.m. — Amir Miftakhov thinks he was interfered with but no call.

2:23 p.m. — PP GOAL! Joe Veleno distracts the Russian defenseman in front and Dylan Cozens is left all alone to bury the loose puck. Game tied 1-1.

2:21 p.m. — Within seconds of taking a penalty, Russia takes another one when they touch up and Canada will go on a full two-minute 5-on-3 power play.

2:19 p.m. — The top line of Lafreniere, Hayton and Cozens comes out and gets a number of chances — Cozens shoots wide, then Cozens in front on the backhand can't tuck it in and Lafreniere can't score on the rebound.

2:17 p.m. — Goal is being reviewed, probably to see if it was hit with a high-stick — and it's not close. Good goal.

2:16 p.m. — PP GOAL. Yegor Zemula's point shot is deflected down by Nikita Alexandrov and beats Hofer between the legs. Canada trails 1-0.

2:14 p.m. — Hofer another big-time save — this one off of the paddle.

2:12 p.m. — Hayton called for holding the stick but it is a questionable call. Regardless Canada is shorthanded again.

2:09 p.m. — Joel Hofer with a big save on Alexander Khovanov as he streaks in.

2:07 p.m. — Lots of scramble in front of the Russian net but the Canadians — including Alexis Lafreniere and Bowen Byram — can't bury the loose puck.

2:05 p.m. — Some first-period stats

  • Canada seven shots on goal, Russia 10
  • Canada eight penalty minutes, Russia two

shot-chart-first-period-010520

Key: + is for shots saved by goalkeeper; < is for blocked shots; - is missed shot

2:04 p.m. — Canada cannot convert and it's back to 5-on-5.

2:00 p.m. — Canada breaks out 3-on-2, Dylan Cozens with a good high shot that Miftakhov sends it to the middle. Lots of scrambling in the slot but in the end, Canada gets a power play as the puck was covered by the closed hand of a Russian player.

1:59 p.m. — Second period underway. Hayton not penalized for the high-stick.

1:59 p.m. — Going to go out on a limb and say that was the Canadian contingent . . . 

First period: Canada 0, Russia 0

1:42 p.m. — Barrett Hayton's stick comes up and smacks Yegor Sokolov in the face as the first period ends. Canada may start the second down a man again.

1:41 p.m. — Russia held to two shots on net. It is now 0-for-4 with the man advantage.

1:38 p.m. — Jamie Drysdale with a block and it stung him. He is limping around.

1:36 p.m. — After the penalty expires, the Russians go right back on the power play as Kevin Bahl is called for slashing. Canada doing well on the penalty kill but can't keep giving the Russians the opportunity.

1:34 p.m. — Hofer makes a good save on a point shot that may have handcuffed him slightly and then follows it up seconds later with another key stop as the puck goes off the skate of McIsaac

1:32 p.m. — As we've seen all tournament long, the referees are going to call it tight. Ty Smith now gets called for holding and Canada will be shorthanded for the third time in the game.

1:30 p.m. — Akil Thomas with a big block on the penalty kill right after Jacob McIsaac does the same.

1:27 p.m. — Joe Veleno gets called for interference as he goes to lift a stick and it goes flying. They'll skate 4-on-4 for 27 seconds and then Russia gets power-play time.

1:27 p.m. — Alexander Romanov block a Hayton shot and it appears to sting the Russian defender.

1:25 p.m. — Joe Veleno gets slashed in the neutral zone and is seen flexing his hand but stays on the ice. Canada will head to its first power play.

1:21 p.m. — By the way, for the superstitious readers: Canada's wearing the black (a.k.a. the best) jersey again today. The Canadians wore them against the Czech Republic in the preliminary round, Slovakia in the quarterfinals and Finland in the semifinal.

1:18 p.m. — Lots of centering passes by both teams but none are connecting.

1:15 p.m. — Joel Hofer has looked stellar thus far and makes a big save on the penalty kill.

1:13 p.m. — Jared McIaasc takes a penalty and Russia will get the first power play of the game. Russia has scored seven power-play goals in the last three games.

1:09 p.m. — Bowen Byram and Barrett Hayton have taken their first shifts of the game.

1:09 p.m. — Liam Foudy with a chance early on and right off the post.

1:08 p.m. — Game on!

Pregame

1:03 p.m. — It is loud at Ostravar Arena.

12:49 p.m. — Canada's lineup.

12:44 p.m. — History in the making.

12:42 p.m. — Hayton is on the ice.

Relevant links

Tournament Canada

Jackie Spiegel