Excerpt from 'Rocket Hockey Report' looking at the potential for some of the AHL's top coaching talent to be tapped for NHL roles. The 2024 IIHF World Championship continued on Monday with a matchup between the United States and Slovakia, which put the friendship between teammates Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky on hold during the contest. The United States trailed by three goals after 40 minutes when they bounced back with three unanswered goals in the third period to force overtime. Slovakia ended the hopes of a comeback with the winning goal 3:56 into the extra period. Both Canadiens forwards were held off the scoresheet with Slafkovsky taking three shots on goal in 18:40 of ice time, while Caufield took two shots on goal, plus-1, in 15:42 of action. "It's great. It's the best thing that happened. I love it and I can chirp him now anytime," Slafkovsky told RDS in an interview following Slovakia's 5-4 overtime win in Ostrava. Meanwhile in Prague, Oliver Kapanen opened the scoring with a power play goal at 6:49 and an additional goal in the second period as Finland defeated Norway 4-1. The Canadiens 64th overall selection in 2021, took three shots on goal and plus-1 in 14:11 of play. Kapanen is the tournament's leading goal scorer with five goals in three games, ahead of Canada's Connor Bedard who has four goals in two games. On Tuesday, two members of the Canadiens square off as Canada with Kaiden Guhle faces Austria with Vinzenz Rohrer. The contest will be held in Prague at 2:20 pm. ET and will be available on TSN 1/4 in Canada. Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal [https://thn.com/montreal] for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world. The Hockey News: Pick A Free Issue! [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk3MTk4Mzc0MTE4Nzc2/hockeynewsad.jpg] The Hockey News: Pick A Free Issue!
