Blues goalie stops 20 of 22 shots to help Canadians to 3-2 win, move to top of Group A; Americans blitz Kazaks 10-1 with Blues center, defenseman each getting first point, respectively
Jordan Binnington didn't mind taking the net in back-to-back games for Canada.
After helping the Canadians rally to a 5-3 win against Finland on Saturday with 29 saves, the St. Louis Blues goalie was back at it again with first place in Group A on the line at the 2024 IIHF World Championship.
Once again, Canada used a rally, overcoming a one-goal deficit in the second period to pull out a 3-2 win against Switzerland at Prague Arena in Prague, Czechia on Sunday.
Binnington made 20 saves for Canada (5-1-0-0, 17 points), which moved past Czechia, which has 15 points and three points ahead of the Swiss (4-1-0-1, 14 points).
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko had one shot on goal and logged 25:27, second only to defensive partner Owen Power (Buffalo Sabres), who played 25:56.
Meanwhile for USA, it was a much more easier path with a 10-1 rout of Kazakhstan, which was outshot by USA 58-14 in the game at Ostrava Arena in Ostrava, Czechia.
USA (4-0-1-1, 13 points), which moved into second place in Group B behind Sweden, outshot the Kazaks 20-5 in the first period in jumping to a 4-0 lead, and 25-4 in the second period, scoring three more times.
Blues center Kevin Hayes scored his first goal -- and point -- of the tournament when he made it 9-0 at 5:42 of the third period tipping in a shot by defenseman Jeff Petry (Detroit Red Wings).
Hayes played his tournament high 17:24, had four shots on goal and was a plus-1.
Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel, playing in just his second game, had the primary assist on Gavin Brindley's goal at 1:39 of the second period to give USA a 5-0 lead.
Kessel finished with three shots on goal and was a plus-2 in 11:40 ice time.
St. Louisan Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) scored a hat trick and had an assist for USA, while Chesterfield's Luke Kunin (San Jose Sharks) had a goal and an assist.
Each country has one group game remaining, Canada facing host Czechia with first place on the line again Tuesday at 9:20 a.m. (CT), while USA also plays at 9:20 a.m. on Tuesday against Latvia before quarterfinal action begins on Thursday.
