Canada move into play off places.

It didn’t take long for Canada to get going, and it did so via a gift from its opponents. The French took two quick penalties, and with the two-man advantage Canada struck. Anthony MANTHA blasted a slapshot form the top of the circle over the glove of Buysse at 8:18 to make it 1-0.

 Two and a half minutes later, the Canadians doubled their lead on a nice pass from Jonathan Marchessault to Darnell NURSE on the back side. He one-timed a shot and didn't miss.

Later in the period it was Anthony CIRELLI from in close, converting a fine back pass from behind the goal from Sean Couturier.

To France’s credit, they didn’t roll over. Indeed, they had the better of play in the second as a lacklustre Canada fell back a bit. Carter Hart, though, with a shutout to his credit already, held the fort until a late goal from Damien FLEURY on the power play made it a two goal game.

With Darnell Nurse in the box for tripping, Fleury took a cross-ice pass from Florian Chakiachvili and smacked a fluttering puck over Hart’s shoulder. 

Anthony Rech of France missed a stretch pass through centre ice, but he chased after it and forced a turnover from defenceman Damon Severson. RECH stole the puck, walked out front, and roofed a shot  to make it 3-2. So it was all to play for in the final period.

However this  was the wakeup call Canada needed. They moved the puck at will in the French zone for several minutes, and Mantha made it 4-2 on an odd play. Buysee, who had played well all day, lost track of a shot, and the puck rolled behind him along the goal line. As two teammates tried to clear it, MANTHA poked his stick at it and nudged it over the line.

Mark STONE then made it 5-2 on another back pass from behind the goal line from Marcessault to make it more comfortable for the Canadians.

Tweets by @eurohockey