FRIBOURG, Switzerland — Macklin Celebrini scored again, Sidney Crosby scored the first goal and Jet Greaves stopped 34 shots as Canada beat the United States 4-0 in a rematch of the Olympic final to advance to the semifinals of the world ice hockey championship on Thursday.
In the latest round of their bitter rivalry, Canada’s victory ended the Americans’ quest for their first title since 1933.
Thursday’s quarterfinal came three months after the Milan Cortina Olympics gold medal game, in which the Americans won 2-1 in overtime.
Canada remains on course for its 29th world title. Will play Finland in the last four.
Celebrini scored his sixth international goal, Crosby got his first, and Dylan Holloway and Connor Brown also scored. Mark Scheifele had two assists, while Greaves blocked every shot he faced.
“He’s calm and tonight he came up with a big save when we needed it,” pitcher John Tavares said of Greaves. “He was the best player on the ice tonight, for sure.”
The 19-year-old Celebrini broke the shutout with 1:29 left in the first period on the power play with a shot from the slot that beat American goaltender Devin Cooley.
Earlier, Canada wasted a five-minute major penalty for Ryan Lindgren’s illegal check on goalkeeper Evan Bouchard and a game misconduct.
Holloway doubled the advantage midway through the interval with a rebound from the right circle.
The Americans pulled Cooley with 2:22 left in the third before Brown and Crosby finished the scoring with a pair of empty-net goals.
In their most recent match at worlds, Canada won 4-2 in the 2021 semifinals and went on to capture gold. The US took the bronze.
Matthew Tkachuk lost his chance to become the first American in hockey’s Triple Gold Club. He won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers and claimed Olympic gold in Milan.
“In the third period we played really well and their goalkeeper made an amazing save,” said Tkachuk. “In the end they were better for most of the game so they deserved to win.”
Led by young captain Celebrini, Canada is powered by an NHL-laden roster with top players like Tavares and Ryan O’Reilly. The Canadians advanced to the first round with seven wins and topped their group.
The Americans had a very young, inexperienced team and only made it to the last eight by beating Austria 4-1 in the final match of the group stage.
Finland, Switzerland, Norway ahead
In Zurich, Finland beat the Czech Republic 4-1 in a match between the 2022 and 2024 champions, respectively, to set up a semi-final against Canada.
Finland were up 2-0 after the opening period with goals from Sakari Manninen and Anton Lundell. In the second, Konsta Helenius made it 3-0 before Filip Hronek scored for the Czechs with a two-man advantage. Lenni Hameenaho closed the scoring in the third.
In Zurich, Switzerland beat Sweden 3-1 at the Swiss Life Arena which was packed with tennis player Roger Federer.
Roman Josi started the meeting with a goal and assisted two others – from Denis Malgin and Calvin Thurkauf.
The Swiss will face Norway, who dispatched Latvia 2-0 to make the last four for the first time.
The semi-finals are scheduled for Saturday.
