Norway got out to a 2-0 lead, surrenderd the tying goal in the dying seconds, but won in a penalty-shot shootout.
photo: Matt Zambonin / IIHF
Norway beat Canada 4-2 in the penalty-shot shootout to win the game, 3-2. It was only the second win ever for the Norwegians against the mighty Canadians, the first coming back in 2000, and the first time these teams have gone to overtime or a shootout.
The game went to extra time thanks to a dramatic conclusion to regulation time. Trailing 2-1 with the goalie on the bench, Canada won a faceoff in the Norway end. Michael Carcone got the puck to Lawson Crouse in front, and Crouse wasted no time snapping the puck high in the net with just 11.1 seconds remaining.
The win moves Norway (1-1-1-3) up into 6th place in the group with 6 points while Canada (3-1-1-1) moves one point ahead of Latvia for 3rd place with 12 points.
"This is huge for us," said veteran Ken Andre Olimb, who had a pretty assist on Norway's first goal in regulation time. "I think it’s been 23 years since the last time, so it’s a big achievement. This is a big experience for our young guys coming up. They showed the level that they’re capable of playing at, and they’re going to get better. This is really good for our confidence because it’s not often we manage to beat the big teams."
"We’ve just gotta be better," said Canadian Scott Laughton. "All of these teams are playing so well defensively, so we’ve got to find a way to get more internal scoring chances and go from there. It’s a short tournament. We’ll learn from what we did wrong tonight and get ready for tomorrow; tomorrow’s a big one."
Both teams have one more game left on the final day of the preliminary round. Norway will take on Slovakia in the first game tomorrow and then the Canadians will take on Czechia in the mid-afternoon time slot again.
Norway started today’s game looking far more interested than a lacklustre Canadian contingent. Norway had the only goal, the more frequent and better chances, and the better of dangerous play. They opened the scoring midway through the first after Jake Neighbours lost the puck along the boards in his own end. Olimb was right there and whipped a pass to Andreas Martinsen in front, and he snapped a shot past the glove of Joel Hofer before the goalie knew what had happened.
Things got worse for Canada early in the second. That spot where Olimb made the pass to Martinsen for the first goal? That’s pretty much exactly where Sondre Olden fired a quick, soft, desperate shot—which Hofer muffed. Time of the goal 1:52. Score 2-0 Norway.
The one thing that goal did, though, was to poke the bear, and Canada had the better of play for half the period. They got on the scoreboard thanks to Milan Lucic’s third of the tournament, a wrister through traffic that Jonas Arntzen didn’t see until it was too late.
But Norway settled down and didn’t allow Canada to keep the momentum, and play was even for several minutes until Adam Fantilli took a major and game misconduct for a head hit along the boards. That put Canada back on its heels as the period drew to a close, Norway still a goal up.
After killing of that major in impressive fashion, Canada finally showed some urgency in the third, but Norway played near perfect defence, not sitting on the lead and not allowing too many great chances. Until the final seconds. But they made up for the lost lead with a near flawless performance in the shootout.
"It’s an unreal feeling," enthused Johannes Johannesen. "I’ve never imagined beating Canada in the World Championship – it’s a huge win for us!"
The game went to extra time thanks to a dramatic conclusion to regulation time. Trailing 2-1 with the goalie on the bench, Canada won a faceoff in the Norway end. Michael Carcone got the puck to Lawson Crouse in front, and Crouse wasted no time snapping the puck high in the net with just 11.1 seconds remaining.
The win moves Norway (1-1-1-3) up into 6th place in the group with 6 points while Canada (3-1-1-1) moves one point ahead of Latvia for 3rd place with 12 points.
"This is huge for us," said veteran Ken Andre Olimb, who had a pretty assist on Norway's first goal in regulation time. "I think it’s been 23 years since the last time, so it’s a big achievement. This is a big experience for our young guys coming up. They showed the level that they’re capable of playing at, and they’re going to get better. This is really good for our confidence because it’s not often we manage to beat the big teams."
"We’ve just gotta be better," said Canadian Scott Laughton. "All of these teams are playing so well defensively, so we’ve got to find a way to get more internal scoring chances and go from there. It’s a short tournament. We’ll learn from what we did wrong tonight and get ready for tomorrow; tomorrow’s a big one."
Both teams have one more game left on the final day of the preliminary round. Norway will take on Slovakia in the first game tomorrow and then the Canadians will take on Czechia in the mid-afternoon time slot again.
Norway started today’s game looking far more interested than a lacklustre Canadian contingent. Norway had the only goal, the more frequent and better chances, and the better of dangerous play. They opened the scoring midway through the first after Jake Neighbours lost the puck along the boards in his own end. Olimb was right there and whipped a pass to Andreas Martinsen in front, and he snapped a shot past the glove of Joel Hofer before the goalie knew what had happened.
Things got worse for Canada early in the second. That spot where Olimb made the pass to Martinsen for the first goal? That’s pretty much exactly where Sondre Olden fired a quick, soft, desperate shot—which Hofer muffed. Time of the goal 1:52. Score 2-0 Norway.
The one thing that goal did, though, was to poke the bear, and Canada had the better of play for half the period. They got on the scoreboard thanks to Milan Lucic’s third of the tournament, a wrister through traffic that Jonas Arntzen didn’t see until it was too late.
But Norway settled down and didn’t allow Canada to keep the momentum, and play was even for several minutes until Adam Fantilli took a major and game misconduct for a head hit along the boards. That put Canada back on its heels as the period drew to a close, Norway still a goal up.
After killing of that major in impressive fashion, Canada finally showed some urgency in the third, but Norway played near perfect defence, not sitting on the lead and not allowing too many great chances. Until the final seconds. But they made up for the lost lead with a near flawless performance in the shootout.
"It’s an unreal feeling," enthused Johannes Johannesen. "I’ve never imagined beating Canada in the World Championship – it’s a huge win for us!"