TAMPERE, Finland — Samuel Blais scored twice to lead Canada to a 5-2 win over Germany in the men’s world hockey final on Sunday.
This is a record 28th world title for Canada, and second in three years. Russia has 27 while Germany have yet to win a trophy.
Blais scored with a backhand 4:51 into the final period to take a 3-2 lead for Canada, who were playing in their fourth straight final.
“It tastes really good,” Blais said. “We have been in Europe for a month and we are all waiting for that moment to play for the gold medal. And we were lucky enough to win it.”
Lawson Crouse, Tyler Toffoli And Scott Laughton also scored for Canada, Peyton Krebs has two assists and a goalkeeper Samuel Montembéault stopped 21 shots.
Toffoli stretched the lead to 4-2 from the left-hand circle with 8:09 remaining and Laughton made it 5-2 with a scoreless goal.
Adam Fantilli becoming the second Canadian player after Jonathan Toews to win gold at the junior world and world championships that same year.
Canada had to come back twice in the final.
John Peterka put a shot past Montembeault from the left circle 7:44 into the game. It was the sixth goal for the Buffalo Sabers forward in the tournament.
Blais was fed by Krebs to beat the goalkeeper Mathias Niederberger and tied 1-1 at 10:47 a.m.
Daniel Fisherbuch put Germany ahead again by one time with 6:13 left in the middle period.
Crouse leveled with a power play with 2:32 left in the frame.
It was Germany’s first medal since 1953 when it finished second behind Sweden.
The two had previously met only once in the final with Canada winning 6-1 in 1930.
LATVIA WINS BRONZE
Defender Christian Rubins scored his second goal 1:22 into extra time to lead Latvia to a 4-3 victory over the United States and earn a bronze medal Sunday morning.
This was the first top three finish for Latvia in the tournament. His previous best was seventh place which he managed three times.
The US lost the bronze medal game for the second year in a row. The USA team cruised through the tournament on an eight-match winning streak until being beaten by Germany in the semifinals 4-3 in overtime.
Rubins rallied Latvia with the first with 5:39 remaining in the final period to tie the game at 3 to force overtime.
Robert Bukarts And Janis Jaks also scored for Latvia.
Rocco Grimaldi scored twice for the US in the opening period to negate Latvia’s 1-0 and 2-1 leads.
Matt Coronato has put the US 3-2 ahead 6:19 into the final period.
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