Pontus Holmberg and Swedes Stay Flawless, John Tavares and Canada Earn Another Regulation Win; Maple Leafs’ Day 7 Recap at World Hockey Championship
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Pontus Holmberg and Sweden were in complete control today as they kept on rolling at the Men’s World Hockey Championship.
In a convincing 3-1 win over Kazakhstan, which saw them maintain the lead after they scored their first goal of the game halfway into the opening frame, the Swedes improved to 4-0-0-0 staying put at the top of Group ‘B’.
Despite being held off the scoresheet in Thursday’s game, Holmberg recorded two shots and a +1 rating in 14:58 of total ice time. Through four games of action, Holmberg has amassed three points, all primary assists, one of which was shorthanded. The centerman has netted a team-leading +7 rating in his four games of action slotted on the second line centering Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Johansson and Seattle Kraken winger Andre Burakovsky – both of which have a +7 rating as well.
The trio of Holmberg (3A), Johansson (3G, 3A), and Burakovsky (2G, 4A), have been doing some heavy lifting up front, collectively contributing 15 points as the team’s most productive line. In addition to a top-six role, Holmberg has been utilized at times on the penalty kill, capitalizing on his ability to be responsible defensively.
The Swedes are back in action on Saturday at 6:20 a.m. ET when they face off against Latvia (1-2-0-1) as they continue to chase their first gold medal since going back to back in 2017 and 2018.
Tavares and Canada dominate in 4-1 win over Norway
After forfeiting a point in the team’s 7-6 overtime victory on Tuesday, highlighted by a disastrous third-period collapse against Austria, John Tavares and Canada regrouped today in an overly dominant 4-1 victory over Norway – moving back into first place in Group ‘A’ with an overall record of 3-1-1-0. Canada didn’t allow a single shot in the first forty minutes of play, outshooting their opponent 33-6 through a full 60 minutes of action.
Canada proved to be on the winning side this time around in Czechia, avenging themselves from last year’s 3-2 shootout loss in Riga, Latvia – the second loss in 25 all-time meetings with Norway.
Logging first-line minutes centering Tampa Bay Lighting forward Brandon Hagel and Los Angeles Kings winger Pierre-Luc Dubois, Tavares registered two shots in 14:37 total ice time against the Norwegians. Through three games of action, Tavares has tallied a game-winning goal and two assists at a point-per-game pace of three points.
Alongside Hagel (1G, 2A) and Dubois (2G, 2A), Tavares’ three points (1G, 2A) bring the line to a team-leading 10 points combined – leading the way for the Canadians through four games.
Picking up 11 of a possible 12 points thus far, controlling their own destiny, Tavares and the Canadians will have a rest day on Friday before kicking off their fifth preliminary game against a formidable opponent from Finland (2-0-1-1) on Saturday at 10:20 a.m. ET.
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