Canada Dominates USA 4-0 to Reach Hockey Worlds Semifinals

Canada has advanced to the semifinals of the IIHF World Championship after a commanding 4-0 victory over the United States in Thursday's quarterfinal clash. The win avenged a previous Olympic final loss and keeps Canada on track for its 29th world title.

Key performances from young star Macklin Celebrini, who scored his sixth goal of the tournament, and veteran Sidney Crosby, who netted his first, powered the Canadian offense. Goaltender Jet Greaves was also instrumental, making 34 saves to earn a shutout.

This decisive win ended the United States' hopes of retaining the championship, which they had won for the first time in a century in 2023. The rematch of the Milan Cortina Olympics gold-medal game, where the Americans won 2-1 in overtime, saw a different outcome this time.

Canadian Dominance on Ice

The game remained scoreless until late in the first period when 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini broke the deadlock on a power play. His shot from the slot found the back of the net with just 1:29 left in the opening frame. The United States had a significant opportunity earlier in the period with a five-minute major penalty for an illegal check to the head, but they failed to capitalize.

Midway through the second period, Dylan Holloway extended Canada's lead, scoring on a rebound from his own shot. The Americans attempted to rally in the third period, pulling their goalie in the final minutes, but Connor Brown and Sidney Crosby sealed the victory with two empty-net goals.

Notable Performances

Jet Greaves was lauded by his teammates for his stellar performance. "He is calm and tonight came up with the big save when we needed it," said forward John Tavares. "He was the best player on the ice tonight, for sure."

Matthew Tkachuk, who was aiming to become the first American in hockey's Triple Gold Club, acknowledged the Canadian team's strength. "In the third period we played really, really good and their goalie made some incredible saves," Tkachuk stated. "They ultimately were better for most of the game and so deserved to win."

Canada's roster features a blend of established NHL talent and promising young players, led by captain Celebrini. They navigated the preliminary stage with a perfect seven wins, topping their group. The U.S. team, characterized by its younger and less experienced roster, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Austria in their final group game.

Semifinal Matchups Set

Canada will now face Finland in the semifinals. Finland secured their spot by defeating Czechia 4-1. In another quarterfinal, Switzerland narrowly beat Sweden 3-1, with tennis star Roger Federer in attendance, to set up a semifinal clash with Norway, who defeated Latvia 2-0. The semifinals are scheduled for Saturday.

Datos clave
| Team | Score | Result |
|—|—|—|
| Canada | 4 | Win |
| USA | 0 | Loss |
| Key Scorers (CAN) | Celebrini, Holloway, Brown, Crosby | Goals |
| Goaltender (CAN) | Jet Greaves | 34 Saves, Shutout |

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Fuente: nypost.com, https://nypost.com/2026/05/29/sports/canada-blanks-team-usa-to-advance-to-semis-at-hockey-worlds/

Datos clave