"If we were to take anything away from the group stage about this Canadian side, one of those things should be the idea that they look far better than the teams fielded over the past two years. Say what you will about Hockey Canada leaving some NHL talent behind, but this unit has arguably been Canada's best offensively in years. Sure, this year's roster might not rival that of the 2023 team led by the likes of Connor Bedard, but it's pretty close."
"Save for an overtime win against Latvia, Canada has been able to win their group stage games by comfortable margins. Whether it's a blowout win over Denmark or a 7-4 decision against Finland, Canada has proven that they're once again a force to be reckoned with and that they'll continue to do so throughout the knockouts."
Canada looks far better than the teams fielded over the past two years and has arguably its best offensive unit in years despite some NHL talent being left behind. Canada won most group-stage games by comfortable margins, including a blowout over Denmark and a 7-4 victory over Finland, with only an overtime win over Latvia closer. A quarterfinal against Slovakia presents a challenge, but Canada is in a stronger position than recent tournaments and appears likely to reach a medal game for the first time since 2023. Sweden recovered from an early slump, beating Germany and the United States to regain momentum and avoid a likely quarterfinal exit.
Read at Puck Prose
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