In one of the wackiest international hockey games you will ever see, Team Canada avoided embarrassment on Tuesday with a 7-6 overtime win over Austria at the 2024 International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s Hockey Championships. The reason why embarrassment was avoided is because Canada had a 6-1 lead heading into the third period, only to see Austria score five unanswered goals to tie the game at six. That is when Canadian captain, Canadian Olympic gold medalist, and Toronto Maple Leafs centre John Tavares of Mississauga, Ontario scored the game-winner at the 15 second mark of extra time from Los Angeles Kings center Pierre-Luc Dubois of Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, and St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko of St. Albert, Alberta. Tavares won the gold medal for Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Five Canadians had a multi-point game for Canada. Tavares, Dubois, and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle of Edmonton, Alberta had one goal and one assist for two points. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Lightning left winger Brandon Hagel of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Parayko each had two assists. The other four Canadian goal scorers were Buffalo Sabres blueliner Bowen Byram of Cranbrook, British Columbia, Chicago Blackhawks centre Connor Bedard of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Seattle Kraken centre Jared McCann of London, Ontario, and Buffalo Sabres left winger Dylan Cozens of Whitehorse, Yukon. With the win, Canada improves to a record of three wins and zero losses for eight points. They are tied with Switzerland for first place.
