Canada completes comeback to stun Sweden, advance to semis at Worlds
Team Canada is off to the 2022 World Hockey Championship semifinals after pulling off a comeback for the ages.
Canada trailed Sweden 3-0 in Thursday's quarterfinal matchup before scoring three goals in the third period - including two in the final two minutes of regulation - to force overtime. Drake Batherson played the role of hero 43 seconds into the extra frame to seal a 4-3 victory.
Pierre-Luc Dubois propelled the comeback by cutting Sweden's lead to 3-2 with a power-play marker at 18:07 of the third period.
PLD cuts the Sweden lead to 1 late in the 3rd. Canada is still alive pic.twitter.com/BO1zTS0nn2
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 26, 2022
Mathew Barzal then tied it 30 seconds later with the Canadian net empty.
TIE GAME!! Mathew Barzal celebrates his birthday with a game-tying goal with under two minutes to go! pic.twitter.com/uYmqyKr1ho
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 26, 2022
After William Nylander took a tripping penalty in overtime, Batherson pounded home the game-winner off a slick no-look pass by Barzal.
DRAKE BATHERSON WINS IT IN OT!! CANADA WINS AND ADVANCES TO THE SEMIS!! pic.twitter.com/XTayTdxQYj
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 26, 2022
All told, it capped three goals in a three-minute span for the Canadians.
"Those are the moments you live for when you play hockey," Canada captain Thomas Chabot said postgame.
Canada outshot Sweden 42-19 in the contest. Ryan Graves scored Canada's first goal of the game, while Max Comtois chipped in with a pair of assists. Chris Driedger made 16 saves.
Canada will play Czechia in the semis. It's the seventh straight year Canada has reached the tournament's final four.
Tournament host Finland will take on the United States in the other semifinal.