Mackinnon Scores Hat-Trick in 7-1 Victory for Canada
Canada never backed down during a 7-2 victory against Slovenia at the World Hockey Championships in Paris, France on Sunday afternoon.
Canada never backed down during a 7-2 victory against Slovenia at the World Hockey Championships in Paris, France on Sunday afternoon.
Canada was dominant from the start of the contest. At 4:30, defenceman Tyson Barrie scored his second goal of the tournament after taking a pass from Wayne Simmonds on the cycle and wiring it over Gasper Kroselj's blocker and in to make it 1-0.
Nathan Mackinnon had a massive night for Canada, scoring a hat-trick in Canada's route. At 14:36, he added his first of the night after picking his own rebound from the slot. He had to dig in a scramble in front but would eventually poke it through, making it 2-0 Canada.
Before the first period was over, Canada made it 3-0. Brayden Point looked ready to send the puck to Mitch Marner at the doorstep, but instead found the puck bounce through Kroselj's five-hole and in to extend Canada's lead further.
Canada continued to get better as the game went on. At 4:44 in the second, Claude Giroux made an incredible spin deke before sending the pass out to Mackinnon at the side of the net. The Colorado Avalacnche forward easily tapped in the goal on the empty cage, making it 4-0 Canada. He'd score again 59 seconds later on the power play, finishing off the hat trick for the first one of the tournament.
At 35:44 in the game, Slovenia would score their only goal of the game. Jan Mursak, considered to be Slovenia's best player with Anze Kopitar out of action, one-timed a pass in deep from Robert Sabolic to make it 5-1. Jan Urbas would score another one with two minutes to go, but in the end it was a goal that didn't do much in the final result. Mitch Marner and Jeff Skinner would both add goals of their own before the game came to a close, giving Canada the 7-2 victory over Slovenia to go 2-0.
Canada won't have much of a break before facing Belarus on Monday at 16:15 local time. Slovenia will get a much-needed day off before meeting up with Norway at 16:15 on Tuesday.
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