(WGR Sports Radio 550) – Dylan Cozens was at it again for Team Canada on Tuesday, scoring two goals, including the overtime winner shorthanded, to beat the host team Czechia, 4-3, at the World Championship.
Cozens has goals in six-consecutive games, scoring eight in total. Those eight goals makes him the goal scoring leader of the tournament, one better than Brady Tkachuk (Ottawa Senators) of the United States.
In seven games, Cozens has 10 points, which ranks him fifth overall.
The game was 0-0 going into the third period, but Cozens scored just 1:01 in to make it 1-0, Canada. His Sabres teammate Owen Power got an assist on the goal.
Canada took a 3-1 lead with goals from Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Dawson Mercer (New Jersey Devils), but Czechia tied it with Ondrej Palat (Devils) scoring at 16:56, and then Roman Cervenka scoring 1:15 later. Cervenka spent a short time in the NHL playing 39 games with the Calgary Flames during the 2012-13 season.
In overtime, Pierre-Luc Dubois (Los Angeles Kings) took a holding penalty, putting Canada down a man in the extra time. However, Cozens found himself alone with goaltender Lukas Dostal (Anaheim Ducks), and slipped a backhand past him.
Cozens played 15:31 in the game, while Power played 21:02 and Bo Byram played 18:44.
After the game, Cozens said being undefeated gives the team a ton of confidence heading into the quarterfinal round.
"All the games were tight, so we had to play those tight games," said Cozens in an interview with a IIHF reporter. "You try to lock it down every game, and we have confidence right now."
This wasn’t perfect by any means for Canada, though.
"There’s no quit. They tie it up, but we don’t give up," Cozens said. "We get shorthanded, and we just find a way. That’s what we do as Canadians, we just find a way and we play for each other."
When you score in six-straight games, you obviously are feeling good about yourself. Cozens is no different.
"I’m having a lot of fun," he said. "This is some of the most fun hockey I’ve ever played, and the best atmosphere I’ve ever played. These fans here are incredible."
Canada takes Group A of the tournament, winning all seven of its games.
In seven games, Power has a goal and four assists for five points. In six games for Canada this year, Byram has a goal and three assists.
Also from Tuesday's action in Czechia, Germany beat France, 6-3, with JJ Peterka picking up an assist in 19:29 of work.
In seven games, Peterka has five goals and four assists for nine points.
Canada will play in the quarterfinal round of the tournament on Thursday against Slovakia, while Germany will face Switzerland, and Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Olofsson and Sweden will take on Finland.
