Canada vs USA

Canada controlled territory through the middle frame and doubled their advantage at 9′ of the second period. Dylan Holloway let go a shot from the right circle and buried his own rebound after Cooley could not control it. Mark Scheifele drew the primary assist — his second point of the night after also setting up Celebrini's opener.

Canada carried a 2–0 lead into the second intermission, but the game was far from decided.

The Americans came out with urgency in the third period, outshooting Canada 14–6 across the final frame. Matthew Tkachuk, Ryan Leonard and defenceman Connor Clifton all had quality chances, but Greaves swallowed everything. The 24-year-old netminder was at his sharpest during a five-minute sequence midway through the period when he stopped three dangerous slot chances in rapid succession.

"In the third period we played really, really good and their goalie made some incredible saves," Tkachuk said afterward. "They ultimately were better for most of the game and so deserved to win."

With 2:22 remaining, the USA pulled Cooley for an extra attacker. Canada promptly sealed the win.

First, Connor Brown fired into the empty net at 18′ off a feed from Zach Whitecloud and Ryan O'Reilly. Then, 20 seconds later, Sidney Crosby — playing in his first World Championship since 2019 — buried his first goal of the tournament after collecting a pass from Dylan Cozens and Darnell Nurse.

The loss ended Matthew Tkachuk's bid to become the first American member of hockey's exclusive Triple Gold Club. Having already won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers and Olympic gold with Team USA in Milan, a World Championship would have completed the set. Instead, the U.S. saw their reign as world champions — earned last year for the first time since 1933 — come to a definitive end.

The Canadians entered the knockout phase as the only unbeaten team in the tournament, having swept all seven preliminary-round games. The roster blends grizzled veteran experience — Tavares, Crosby, Ryan O'Reilly and Scheifele have combined for over 4,000 NHL games — with Celebrini's generational young talent. Scheifele finished with two assists in the quarterfinal.

Canada now await the winner of the Latvia–Norway quarterfinal in Saturday's semifinal, two wins away from a 29th world title.

Scorers: Celebrini 18′ (PP), Holloway 29′, Brown 58′ (EN), Crosby 58′ (EN) Saves: Greaves 34/34 (CAN), Cooley 22/26 (USA) Venue: Fribourg, Switzerland