The 2026 IIHF World Ice Hockey Championship continued on Thursday, May 21, with four thrilling matchups across Group A and Group B. Here is your game report for today’s action.
Scheifele saves the day for canada
Group A: Zurich (Swiss Life Arena)
🇫🇮 Finland 7, 🇱🇻 Latvia 1
Finland asserted their dominance in Group A with a commanding 7-1 victory over Latvia. Despite an early scare when Latvian captain Rūdolfs Balcers scored just 10 seconds into the opening period, Finland responded with overwhelming offensive pressure. They controlled the pace of the game for the remainder of the match, moving to 12 points and joining host Switzerland at the top of the group standings.
🇨🇭 Switzerland 4, 🇬🇧 Great Britain 1
Host nation Switzerland maintained their perfect tournament record with a 4-1 win over Great Britain. Winnipeg Jets forward Nino Niederreiter led the charge with two goals, including the icebreaker just five minutes into the game. Although Great Britain’s Joshua Waller managed to narrow the gap in the second period, the Swiss remained in control. A late “slapstick” goal allowed by Swiss goaltender Reto Berra provided a minor moment of amusement, but the host nation never looked in danger of losing their lead.
Group B: Fribourg (BCF Arena)
🇨🇦 Canada 6, 🇳🇴 Norway 5 (OT)
In the day’s most dramatic contest, Mark Scheifele rescued Canada from a potential upset with a hat-trick, scoring the overtime winner just 29 seconds into the extra frame. Norway stunned the crowd early, building a 2-0 lead on goals by Eskild Bakke Olsen and Johannes Johannesen. Canada clawed their way back, but Norway regained the lead late in the third period (5-4) on goals from Noah Steen and Tinus Luc Koblar. With goaltender Cam Talbot pulled for an extra attacker, Ryan O’Reilly tied the game with 1:39 remaining in regulation to force overtime, setting the stage for Scheifele’s heroics.
🇸🇰 Slovakia 5, 🇩🇰 Denmark 1
Slovakia continued their strong campaign in Group B with a disciplined 5-1 victory over Denmark. Martin Chromiak opened the scoring on the power play in the first period, and Slovakia never looked back. Further goals from Adam Liska, Oliver Okuliar, Martin Pospíšil, and Sebastian Cederle secured the three points. While Mikkel Aagaard managed to put Denmark on the board in the third period, Slovakia’s balanced attack kept them firmly in the quarter-final conversation.
