Bedard scores 2 again as Canada downs Denmark at hockey worlds
Canada's Connor Bedard, right, celebrates with Canada's Dylan Guenther after scoring his sides second goal during the preliminary round match between Denmark and Canada at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
PRAGUE — Connor Bedard scored twice again and added an assist as Canada eased past Denmark 5-1 Sunday for its second straight victory at the ice hockey world championship.
Dylan Cozens, Dawson Mercer and Pierre-Luc Dubois also scored for Canada, whose goaltender Jordan Binnington stopped 19 shots in the Group A game in Prague.
Center John Tavares recorded an assist as he joined the team for the first time after the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup.
Bedard also scored two in Canada’s 4-2 win over Britain on Saturday in their tournament’s opening game.
The 18-year-old Bedard opened the scoring 2:24 into Sunday's game with a shot from the blue line that went through traffic in front of the goal.
Cozens doubled the advantage in the opening period by wristing the shot into the roof of the net on a power play.
Bedar added his second early in the final period with a one-timer from close range.
Finland's goalkeeper Emil Larmi, down, and Finland's Olli Maatta make a save against Britain's Brett Perlini during the preliminary round match between Finland and Great Britain at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
Mercer added the fourth for Canada into an empty net as Denmark pulled goaltender Frederik Dichow with two minutes left and Dubois completed the win on a power play.
Christian Wejse had reduced the lead to 2-1 on a rebound in the middle period.
Last year’s bronze medalist Latvia prevailed 3-2 over France in overtime in Group B in Ostrava. In the same group, star defenseman Erik Karlsson led Sweden with two goals and an assist to cruise past newcomer Poland 5-1.
In Group A, Nico Hischier completed a hat trick with 51 seconds left and added an assist to help Switzerland edge Austria 6-5.
Britain's Robert Dowd, right, challenges Finland's Pekka Jormakka during the preliminary round match between Finland and Great Britain at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, Sunday, May 12, 2024. Credit: AP/Petr David Josek
Sweden and Switzerland have won two games from two.
Earlier, Finland shut out newcomer Great Britain 8-0 for its first victory.
Oliver Kapanen scored a hat trick and Mikael Granlund had four assists for the Finns who recovered from a 1-0 shootout loss to the host Czech Republic in the opening game.
Finland goaltender Emil Larmi made 14 saves for the shutout in Prague.
For the British, it was a second straight loss after a 4-2 defeat to Canada in its first game.
Slovakia also registered its first win, a 6-2 victory over Kazakhstan in Group B.
