Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 on Friday at the BCF Arena in Fribourg, moving to 5-0 at the world hockey championship in Switzerland and staying in first place in the Group B championship standings. The victory came one day after Canada’s only blemish, a 6-5 overtime loss to Norway on Thursday.
Emmitt Finnie scored his first goal of the round-robin tournament and added an assist in 5:57 of ice time. He tipped in a shot from Morgan Rielly at 6:41 of the third period, a finish that helped separate Canada after a tight game. Finnie, who had played in only two of Canada’s five games before Friday, also drew praise from John Tavares, who said it was not easy for him and that he was learning a lot by being around the group. Tavares added that he was thrilled for Finnie to get on the board and be named Best Player of the game.
Canada did not need a scoring surge to control the result. Tavares said the team was more connected than it had been on Thursday, and that it possessed the puck a lot even if it would have been nice to score more. He said Canada was in control for most of the game but can still find ways to be better.
The win also came with another quiet night for Porter Martone, who was scoreless in 8:11 of ice time. Martone still has one goal and four assists for five points in five games. Canada had a day off before facing Slovakia on Sunday in a meeting of undefeated teams, a matchup that now carries the feel of a test for first place as much as a chance to keep the run intact.
For Canada, the margins remain small even at 5-0. The standings show a team on top, but Thursday’s overtime wobble and Friday’s modest two-goal cushion suggest the path through this tournament is still being earned shift by shift.
