Celebrini and Crosby score as
Canada beats US to advance to semifinals of ice hockey worlds
[May 29, 2026]
FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Macklin Celebrini scored again, Sidney
Crosby netted his first and Jet Greaves stopped 34 shots as Canada
beat the United States 4-0 in a rematch of the Olympic final to
advance to the semifinals at the ice hockey world championship on
Thursday.
In the latest edition of their fierce rivalry, Canada's victory
ended the Americans' quest to retain the trophy that they had won
for the first time since 1933.
Thursday's quarterfinal came three months after the Milan Cortina
Olympics gold-medal game, which the Americans won 2-1 in overtime.
Canada remains on course for its 29th title at the worlds. It will
play Finland in the last four.
Celebrini scored his sixth goal at the worlds, Crosby got his first,
and Dylan Holloway and Connor Brown also scored. Mark Scheifele had
two assists, and Greaves turned away every shot he faced.
“He is calm and tonight came up with the big save when we needed
it,” forward John Tavares said of Greaves. “He was the best player
on the ice tonight, for sure.”
The 19-year-old Celebrini broke the deadlock with 1:29 remaining in
the opening period on a power play with a shot from the slot to beat
U.S. goalie Devin Cooley.
Earlier, Canada wasted a five-minute major penalty for Ryan
Lindgren’s illegal check to the head of defenseman Evan Bouchard and
game misconduct.
Holloway doubled the advantage midway through the middle period on a
rebound off his own shot from the right circle.
The Americans pulled Cooley with 2:22 left in the third before Brown
and Crosby finished the scoring with a couple of empty-net goals.
In their most-recent matchup at the worlds, Canada won 4-2 in the
semifinals in 2021 and went on to capture gold. The U.S. took
bronze.
Matthew Tkachuk lost a chance to become the first American in
hockey’s Triple Gold Club. He won the Stanley Cup back-to-back with
the Florida Panthers and claimed the Olympic gold in Milan.
"In the third period we played really, really good and their goalie
made some incredible saves,” Tkachuk said. “They ultimately were
better for most of the game and so deserved to win.”
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Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) celebrates with Macklin Celebrini (71)
after scoring a goal during the third period of the 2026 IIHF Men's
Ice Hockey World Championship quarterfinal match between Canada and
United States, in Fribourg, Switzerland, Thursday, May 28, 2026. (AP
Photo/Darko Bandic)
Led by the teenage captain Celebrini, Canada is
powered by an NHL-laden roster with established forwards such as
Tavares and Ryan O'Reilly. The Canadians cruised through the
preliminary stage with seven wins and topped their group.
The Americans had a much younger, less-experienced team and only
made the last eight by beating Austria 4-1 in the final group-stage
game.
Finland, Switzerland, Norway advance
In Zurich, Finland beat Czechia 4-1 in a game between the 2022 and
2024 champions, respectively, to set up a semifinal against Canada.
Finland was 2-0 up after the opening period on goals from Sakari
Manninen and Anton Lundell. In the second, Konsta Helenius made it
3-0 before Filip Hronek scored for the Czechs on a two-man
advantage. Lenni Hameenaho closed out the scoring in the third.
Also in Zurich, Switzerland came from a goal down to knock out
Sweden 3-1 at a packed Swiss Life Arena with tennis great Roger
Federer in attendance.
Roman Josi started the rally with a goal and assisted on the other
two — from Denis Malgin and Calvin Thurkauf.
The Swiss will next face Norway, which dispatched Latvia 2-0 to make
the last four for the first time.
The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday.
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