Credit: Sportsnet [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/a46a6bb2-20bd-4bf6-98ad-11eba245d747.webp] Credit: Sportsnet Heading into their final preliminary match of the IIHF Men's World Championship, Team Canada was set to square off [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/world-championship-finland-hands-canada-first-tournament-loss] against the only remaining undefeated team at the tournament. And they're undefeated no more. On Tuesday, the Canadians beat Team Sweden, 5-3, in a run-and-gun game with a ton of penalties and special teams. Pittsburgh Penguins [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins] captain Sidney Crosby registered two assists, and Nathan MacKinnon and Travis Konecny each had three points to lead Canada to victory. The game got off to a quick start, as Travis Sanheim scored just 18 seconds into the game after a few third- and fourth-chance opportunities around the net-front. Swedish forward Elias Lindholm capitalized on a shorthanded opportunity to tie the game just three and a half minutes later. A few minutes later, Tyson Foerster potted one from from Jared Spurgeon and Crosby to put Canada back on top, 2-1, and Ryan O'Reilly added another one with seven minutes remaining in the opening frame. Canadian forward Brayden Schenn took a penalty a few minutes into the second period, and Team Sweden's Marcus Johansson scored on the ensuing man advantage to cut his team's deficit to one. But, midway through the period, the Crosby-Macklin Celebrini connection [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/latest-news/its-a-dream-come-true-young-nhl-star-has-high-praise-for-penguins-crosby] struck again, as Captain Canada found the youngster with a stretch pass from the defensive zone, and Celebrini carried it in on a partial breakaway and put it in the back of the net to restore Canada's two-goal lead. MacKinnon scored a little more than four minutes into the third period to make it 5-2, which forced Swedish goaltender Jacob Markstrom out of his net in favor of Samuel Ersson. Rasmus Andersson did tally another goal for Sweden within the last few minutes of regulation, but it was not enough, as Sweden was handed its first tournament loss. With the win against Sweden in regulation, Canada secured the top seed in elimination play, and they will face Denmark in the first round on Thursday at 2:20 EDT in Herning, Denmark. 'My Biggest Idol': IIHF World Championship Players Weigh In On Playing Against Crosby [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/b059835d-da46-4a5e-9e73-bb59fdfe5820.jpeg] 'My Biggest Idol': IIHF World Championship Players Weigh In On Playing Against Crosby <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> captain Sidney Crosby had not played in the IIHF Men's World Championship since 2015, when he captained Team Canada to gold in Prague. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/my-biggest-idol-iihf-world-championship-players-weigh-in-on-playing-against-crosby] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwquDfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!
