Tavares rescues Canadians with game-winner after five-goal lead frittered away in third period; Binnington in goal with Hofer as backup; Parayko adds two assists, including one in OT
Canada remained unbeaten at the 2024 IIHF World Championship on Wednesday but received the scare of its life.
John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) scored in overtime to rescue Canada from a near-disaster with a 7-6 win against Austria at Prague Arena in Prague, Czechia after the Canadians squandered away a five-goal lead in the third period.
Canada (2-1-0-0) led 6-1 and was comfortably in front and well on its way to a perfect 3-0-0-0 start to the tournament before Austria (0-0-1-2) mounted its comeback by scoring five times in 15:57, including the tying goal by Marco Rossi (Minnesota Wild) with 49 seconds remaining in the third, off St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, who allowed six goals on just 21 shots in the game; Binnington was backed up by Blues teammate Joel Hofer.
It was the biggest comeback in men's world championship history, according to the IIHF.
Blues defenseman Colton Parayko picked up his first two points of the tournament with a pair of assists, including one on the Tavares game-winner at 15 seconds.
Parayko had three shots on goal and was a plus-1 in 20:21.
Canada's next pool play game is Thursday at 1:20 p.m. (CT) when it faces Norway.
