Bye Bye Cinderella

Who can stop Canada? Certainly not Denmark, climbing until quarter final after a brilliant campaign in the preliminary round but that objectively has already done its best. In a crowded (finally) Air Canada Center, all dressed in red and white – curiously also the colors of Denmark – Canada flies to semifinals with an eye already at the final: Slovakia, hammered 8-0 in the preliminary round, seems just another Denmark  on the way to medal.

Coach Groulx choose Zach Fucale in the net, continuing to alternate the two goalies, Georg Sorensen in the net for Denmark, in a night with a lot of work. First save after 6 seconds in the game! Fucale deflects a shot by Nikolaj Ehlers after two minutes. After three minutes Robby Fabbri has to leave the ice badly falling after a charge (Brayden Point takes his place on the third line) and in the following action Denmark was close to open the score but Fucale blocks the shot by Ehlers, while Sorensen stops Nick Ritchie and then with a bit of luck Anthony Duclair shot is on the net. The Danish fort resists until 10:37 when a beautiful action of Connor McDavid results in the first goal, scored by Curtis Lazar. Canada continuing to attack aiming to close the question and add another brick at 15:17 when Sam Reinhart solves a after tentative by Duclair and Domi. Denmark is alive at the end of period in a power play: Ehlers twice try to score but Fucale is reactive in blocking the shots.

Robby Fabbri leaving the ice: WJC is over for him

In the second period Petan, Gauthier and Virtanen early test Sorensen reactivity. The pressure of Canada is constant: Gauthier incredibly misses a goal with the net wide open, then serves Lawson Crouse for a beautiful goal avoiding a defender leaving no chance for Sorensen. Denmark can finally breathe with a power play teasing Fucale with long range shots. But when the teams are back at full strength Canada bites again: Connor McDavid steals the puck in Danish defense and beats Sorensen at 30:21.  Two minutes and the same storyboard is repeating with Hicketts serving Lazar for another one-to-one with Sorensen with same end, a goal for Canada. Duclair misses a very elementary deflection and to get things worst Denmark suffers a two men penalty, but the brave Danish defense and some saves by Sorensen keep the ship afloat until the end of period, closed on power play - out Point.

Curtis Lazar's second goal

At the beginning of third period Canada scores twice with Nick Paul at 43:08, served by Jake Virtanen and at 45:09 with Brayden Point finishing a nice line action between Lazar and McDavid. It’s enough for Sorensen, replaced by Thomas Lillie. At 42 finally a difficult save by Fucale on Mikkel Aagard. At 56 Lillie closed the door twice on Duclair during an hard power play for Danish defense. In the last two minutes
Petan and Paul try desperately to score but Lillie rebounds every puck possible: Danish back up gives up only at 59:06 when Nick Ritchie rebounds in the net a shot by Lawson Crouse not blocked. Game ends with Canada outplayed Denmark 50-14 in Shots on goal, really too easy for hosts, now facing surprise Slovakia in the semifinal. The only shadow in this triumphal night comes from medical department: Robby Fabbri is out for the rest of the tournament with a high ankle sprain.

In the mixed zone both Connor McDavid and Sam Reinhart say they were impressed by the atmosphere in the arena: "This is one of the best crowds I've ever played in front of." said Reinhart, while the star of the night McDavid admits "It's incredible to play out there, it's like a dream come true for a player"

In the press conference Danish coach Olaf Eller admits the tonight game was an impossible task for his team: “The speed and the physicality of Canada kills us, after the preliminary games we were really tired and tonight there was no match. Honestly I think we reached the best result possible.”

Coach Benoit Groulx pays tribute to opponent and to his guys: “I have to take my hat off for Denmark, before the tournament I honestly can’t predict a so brilliant campaign. Especially the game against Russia was a great moment. Tonight before the game we were nervous because we know they are a good team, with great goalie and first line.  So I’m very happy because my players faced this game with the best level of concentration possible."

MVP: Nick Olesen – Connor McDavid

Three best players for team Denmark in the tournament: Georg Sorensen – Nikolaj Ehlers – Oliver Bjorkstrand

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