Canada held on to defeat Chicago Blackhawks prospect Ville Pokka and Finland 2-0 to repeat as World Championships in Moscow. The Canadians defeated Russia, 6-1, to win last year’s world championship.
Pokka, 21, recorded two assists in 10 games for Finland in the tournament.
Connor McDavid, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, scored with 8 minutes, 36 seconds to go in the first period. Matt Duchene (Colorado Avalanche) added another with .9 seconds left. Cam Talbot (Oilers) stopped all 31 shots to earn the shutout.
Finland’s Patrik Laine, the projected No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, was held off the scoresheet. Laine had 12 points, including a tournament-high seven goals.
Panarin wins bronze
Blackhawks forward Artemi Panarin had a goal and two assists in Russia’s 7-2 win over the United States to capture the bronze medal.
Panarin, 24, finishes the tournament with 15 points (six goals and nine assists) in 10 games, which ranks him second in tournament scoring to his teammate Vadim Shipachyov (18 points), It is the second straight year the Russians have medaled at the world championships after taking silver at last year’s tournament.
Blackhawks prospect Tyler Motte was scoreless in the loss to Russia, while Vincent Hinostroza did not play. Both players had a goal and two assists in the tournament.
Sergei Mozyakin had two goals and an assist, while Viacheslov Voinov, Ivan Telegin, Yevgeni Dadonov and Shipachyov also scored.
Frank Vatrano (Boston Bruins) scored both goals for the U.S. and David Warsofsky (New Jersey Devils) added two assists. Top NHL draft prospect Auston Matthews was scoreless.