Talk about saving the best for last.
Akil Thomas entered the 2020 IIHF World Juniors gold medal game without a goal to his name, but at 16:02 of the third period of Sunday's intense final against Russia he netted his first of the tournament to give Canada its first lead of the game. It was the only one the Canadians needed.
MORE CANADA GOALS: Cozens' opener | McMichael scores with foot | Hayton's equalizer
Capping off a wild closing frame in which Canada scored three straight goals to erase a two-goal deficit, Thomas broke free in the Russian zone and grabbed control of the puck just ahead of netminder Amir Miftakhov to put his team up 4-3.
AKIL THOMAS. GO-AHEAD GOAL. HOW??? 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/qT1eq2Oxw3
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 5, 2020
"It was in the third period. I was being patient hoping my time would come," Thomas told TSN. "Our D made a nice pass and I saw the loose puck and I just kind of reacted — and I scored."
The momentum shift was complete with Thomas' goal, as Russia desperately pushed back but couldn't do anything other than pile up penalties in the closing minutes. Canada held on to the 4-3 scoreline to win the World Juniors gold in dramatic fashion.