2025 IIHF World Championship: Crosby, Celebrini highlight top standouts from Day 9
The 2025 IIHF World Championship had its third of four game days with six contests on the docket, with Canada, USA, Sweden, Czechia, Denmark and Finland coming up victorious.
Sweden, Canada, Finland and Slovakia hold the four playoff spots in Group A for now, with Latvia (six points) and Austria (five) chasing down the Slovaks (seven) for the final playoff spot.
Czechia, Switzerland, USA and Germany hold the four spots in Group B, but the Danes are tied with Germany with nine points. Germany has an extra game in hand, though, to keep things interesting.
USA almost had a bit of deja vu. It started when they found themselves with a 3-0 lead, showing some serious strength against a flat German team. But then Germany scored three straight in the second to tie it up, giving the Americans flashbacks of the bout against Norway a few days back. Instead, a three-goal third period would give USA the win, thrusting them over Germany in the standings.
Finland never trailed in the afternoon game against Latvia, but they weren’t the better team. Latvia made sure to keep Juuse Saros busy all day, but the Finns would get goals from Juuso Parssinen and Mikko Lehtonen to win the game 2-1.
The afternoon games ended up being one-sided. Sweden had some fits with France early, but eventually powered through to win 4-0. Czechia, meanwhile, showed no mercy, winning the game 8-1 off the heels of a hat-trick from new World Championship century game member Roman Cervenka.
The afternoon games weren’t particularly competitive, either. Canada improved to 5-0-0-0 with a 7-0 victory over Slovakia, while Denmark beat Norway 6-3.
Here’s a look at the top performers from the six-game slate on Saturday:
Germany 3, USA 6
Germany
#19 Wojciech Stachowiak, C: With two points, the first-line forward was Germany’s most productive forward. He was also good in the faceoff dot, as we’ve come to expect from him. He only had two shots today, and looked frustrated he couldn’t get anything more going. But his two-way game was good, and he likes spending time in front of the crease.
#25 Leon Huttl, D: Huttl had a pair of assists in the second period, which resulted in him getting the most ice time in the third as a reward. The 24-year-old is an undersized puck-moving defender, and he had been overly quiet before tonight – having played just 8:38 against Norway on Tuesday in his most recent game. Huttl can be inconsistent, especially in his own zone. But he drew some NHL attention after scoring 10 goals and 34 points in 51 games in the DEL this past year. That’s a tough league to score in, and yet he had a productive campaign for a blueliner.
#41 Jonas Muller, D: Muller was a huge part of the team’s power play in the second period, and he had three shots overall. He scored on one of them at even strength at 34:43, getting the Germans on the United States’ heels at just the right time to strengthen the comeback effort. I also liked a few of the hits he landed, too.
USA
#72 Tage Thompson, RW (Buffalo Sabres): After scoring a hat-trick against Norway, Thompson started off strong with a power-play goal at 1:42 before adding an assist at 14:17. Thompson’s speed and ability to drive the net were unmatched in this game, and it’s easy to understand why he’s been so dominant for the Americans. Even in the loss to Switzerland, Thompson was one of USA’s best players because he was able to use his size and speed to his advantage.
#83 Conor Garland, RW (Vancouver Canucks): Garland had a goal and three assists in his best game wearing a USA uniform. The 29-year-old winger had three points in his first two games but was quiet against Switzerland and Norway. He has always been great for the Americans whenever he has donned the team’s colors and he’s riding the high of his second 50-point NHL campaign. It’s hard not to love his creativity and playmaking.
#9 Clayton Keller, LW (Utah Mammoth): Keller scored an empty-netter to seal the deal, and he also had two assists. His chemistry with Utah teammate Logan Cooley has been unmatched at this tournament, and it’s great watching them make their high-quality passes together. Keller is a smart, skilled forward who should absolutely be in the conversation to make USA’s Olympic team.
#8 Zach Werenski, D (Columbus Blue Jackets): While it was far from a perfect game from Werenski, he did make two excellent plays that led to goals. He’s always willing to lay it on the line, and his blocked shot at the attacking blueline would eventually help lead to the 4-3 power-play goal, even though he didn’t get a point. Werenski is having to do a lot of the heavy lifting for the Americans – 26:10 today, while no other American played more than 19 minutes. He was even a -1 tonight. But overall, his impact was overly positive.
Finland 2, Latvia 1
Finland
#74 Juuse Saros, G (Nashville Predators): Saros was by far the busier of the two goaltenders today, and he looked great with 34 saves on 35 shots. The one goal he allowed with five minutes to go came on a great shot, so there wasn’t much he could have done there. But despite the Latvian onslaught, highlighted by 13 shots in the third, Saros held strong and kept the Finns in it. He seems to play better the busier he is.
#86 Teuvo Teravainen, LW (Chicago Blackhawks): OK, he didn’t come close to the six assists he had two nights ago. But his pass on the 2-1 goal helped seal the deal for the Finns. He also led the team with three shots, and his defensive work in the third period helped keep things tight. Teravainen continues to impress in his bid to make it to the tournament all-star team.
Latvia
#18 Rodrigo Abols, RW (Philadelphia Flyers): Abols was all over the ice in this one, registering a team-high eight shots. He scored the lone goal on a great shot, but he should have had at least a few more. He struggled in the faceoff dot, but he often made up for it on the same shift by showing some speed and tenacity.
Czechia 8, Kazakhstan 1
Czechia
#19 Jakub Flek, RW: Flek scored in the first and then was one of the hardest-working forwards the rest of the way. He had a couple of decent looks in the O-zone, but it was his work away from the puck – and his effort to retrieve it – that made him so effective. Flek is an energetic winger and brings a lot to this Czech team – and any offense is a nice bonus.
#10 Roman Cervenka, LW: The veteran of 100 World Championship games, Cervenka continues to show why he’s one of the best in tournament history. He still moves well for a 39-year-old and continues to find ways to create high-quality chances with ease. With three goals today, he’s up to 10 points already in five games. Crazy. It doesn’t hurt playing alongside with David Pastrnak, but Cervenka is as good as anyone yet again this year.
#44 Matej Stransky, RW: Stransky had a pair of goals to make it a 3-0 game, making the most of his fourth-line roster spot. His speed and energy came clutch today as he kept rushing through the center of the ice to create dangerous chances.
#24 Adam Klapka, LW (Calgary Flames): Klapka had a goal and an assist today, with his goal being an end-to-end effort. He was a late registration for Czechia, but he showed tremendous speed for a big forward. He played as Czechia’s 13th forward in his tournament debut but gave Czechia’s second line a lot of life today.
Kazakhstan
#24 Dmitriy Breus, D: It was a rough night for Kazakhstan’s blueline, but Breus had a decent game. He had an assist and led all Kazakh players with three shots, but he also played a ton in the third period and didn’t relent despite the one-sided score. I liked his effort, even if it was for nothing in the end.
France 0, Sweden 4
France
#30 Antoine Keller, G (Washington Capitals): That was a much better game for Keller after getting pulled in his last start. He had no chance on a few of the goals, and that happens. But he kept France in it as much as he could before the team in front of him ultimately gave up trying to penetrate the zone.
Sweden
#28 Elias Lindholm, C (Boston Bruins): Lindholm can’t be stopped. The Swedish center scored on the power play to make it 3-0, essentially putting the game out of reach. His shot in open space is spectacular, and his ability to continuously get into high-danger areas has made him so dangerous. That’s great news for Bruins fans, who hope he can bounce back in a big way next year.
#23 Lucas Raymond, RW (Detroit Red Wings): He’s on here almost every day, and for good reason. Raymond had a goal and an assist in the first half of the game, giving Sweden all the momentum they needed in a game that started off quite close. Raymond has been the model of consistency for Sweden – he might not put up a ton of points, but you can always count on him being involved.
#33 Samuel Ersson, G (Philadelphia Flyers): It wasn’t a busy day, but Ersson still had to make some tough stops out of the 15 sent his way. Ersson is an athletic goaltender who moves well in the crease. He had to find a way to stay sharp after facing just one shot in the second and he did. France tested him a bit in the third in an effort to turn the tables but it wasn’t enough.
Canada 7, Slovakia 0
Canada
#87 Sidney Crosby, C (Pittsburgh Penguins): Crosby does things only Crosby can do. Crosby had two goals and two assists, with his work on the first being among the most impressive. He just thinks at such a high level and no opponent seems to be able to handle him. Crosby has been so important for Canada, and he’ll need to remain that way as Canada faces off against Sweden on Tuesday.
#96 Macklin Celebrini, LW (San Jose Sharks): Few people have the hockey sense that Crosby does. Celebrini is definitely close. Watching them play together on a line is a treat – they had instant chemistry from Game 1. Crosby can play with anyone, but I don’t recall many players working together so well as Celebrini has. Celebrini had a goal, but it was his brilliant pass to Crosby that might have been the highlight of the night. In all, he had three points. I hope we get to see them play together somehow again.
#62 Brandon Montour, D (Seattle Kraken): Montour scored on a great passing play and then helped create the 3-0 goal for good measure. The Ohsweken, Ontario native knows exactly when to pinch in and when to get the puck on net for a rebound. He loves joining in on the offense, something Florida Panthers fans will remember quite fondly. Montour has been Canada’s best defenseman at this tournament.
#71 Tyson Foerster, RW (Philadelphia Flyers): Foerster missed Canada’s game against Norway but was excellent today. He’s such a hard worker, and he was in the right spot at the right time for his first goal of the tournament. But yet again, it’s his play away from the puck that makes him so dangerous – he’s always scanning and pushing the envelope.
#9 Nathan MacKinnon, C (Colorado Avalanche): MacKinnon makes everything look so easy. He scored a flukey goal to make it 5-0 but then scored a second one that was a lot more skilled. Outside his notable puck work, MacKinnon is also so dominant away from the puck, winning just about ever individual effort every single game.
Slovakia
#16 Robert Lantosi, RW: Lantosi missed a seemingly empty net a few minutes into the game, with Jordan Binnington just getting his stick in the way. The former Boston Bruins prospect hasn’t had many chances at this tournament but this game was his best as he tried to get Slovakia on the scoresheet.
Denmark 6, Norway 3
Denmark
#12 Oscar Molgaard, C (Seattle Kraken): Molgaard had another two points today to give him six points in six games. That’s not too shabby for someone who played at the Division IA World Juniors back in December. He’s still so young, yet he’s been incredibly impactful for a team that doesn’t have many forwards who think the game like he does. He’s smart, rugged, and a great playmaker, and today was a perfect showing of how dominant he can be.
#63 Patrick Russell, C: Russell scored the opening goal on the two-man advantage and then assisted the 3-1 goal. At that point, it was more than enough for Denmark to win, and it puts him at five points through six games. This is now his most productive World Championship as he has quickly become one of Denmark’s most important players while in his 30s.
#46 Jonas Rondbjerg, RW (Vegas Golden Knights): Rondbjerg joined Denmark in time for this game and scored twice to make as big of an impact as you could ask for. He’s not an overly productive NHLer – he failed to register a point in 13 games this year. But he’s strong, has good play reads and can put a ton of power behind his wristers. This was surprisingly his first men’s national team action since playing some exhibition games back in 2019.
Norway
#24 Jacob Berglund, LW: Berglund had a goal and an assist today as he was one of the few who seemed to penetrate Denmark’s blueline. He’s a bit of a pesky forward out there – always pushing and battling near the crease and showing a willingness to get physical.
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