Canada sets tournament record, wins IIHF World Hockey Championship

For the 28th time in tournament history, Canada has won the IIHF men’s World Hockey Championship, taking gold in Finland on Sunday via a 4-2 victory over Germany.

Canada has now overtaken Russia as the event's all-time gold medal leader, winning it for the second time in three years.

Germany, for its part, has now won silver for the second time.

It took just 7:44 for the Germans to strike first. Buffalo’s JJ Peterka just made it onside with the puck and ended up beating Samuel Montembeault with a low shot to make it 1-0. Canada subsequent challenge was unsuccessful – and Canada killed the penalty.

Three minutes later, the Canadians struck back. Peyton Krebs was able to find a streaking Samuel Blais near the net. Blais, who split the season between the New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues, beat Mathias Niederberger to make it 1-1.

The second period saw much of the same, with Germany scoring first and Canada answering back. Daniel Fischbuch scored at 33:47 with a shot that somehow beat Montembeault low, giving Germany the 2-1 lead. But four minutes later, Arizona’s Lawson Crouse scored on the man advantage after Krebs found him in the slot, with Crouse knocking it in with the tip to make it 2-2.

The third period was all Canada. At 44:51, Blais scored his second of the game on the power play after Cody Glass forced a turnover, giving Canada its first lead. Tyler Toffoli scored the goal that ended up being the ultimate gut-punch to the Germans, going five-hole on Niederberger to make it 4-2. Scott Laughton finished off the effort at 58:06 on the empty net, providing the final goal in the team's 5-2 win.

Earlier in the day, Latvia won its first IIHF medal with a 4-3 win over the United States to secure the bronze.