Canada's Dylan Cozens celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the preliminary round match between Canada and Switzerland at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, on May 19.Petr David Josek/The Associated Press
Dylan Cozens scored twice and added an assist as Canada edged Switzerland 3-2 on Sunday to remain unbeaten at the world hockey championship.
Canada, the defending champion, improved to 6-0 in the tournament, with one of those victories coming in overtime. Switzerland suffered its first loss in six contests.
The win moved Canada atop the Group A standings with 17 points, two ahead of second-place Czechia. The Canadians face off against Czechia on Tuesday.
Switzerland stands third with 14 points.
Nick Paul had the other goal for Canada, scoring in the second period to snap a 2-2 tie. Andrew Mangiapane added three assists while John Tavares had two as all three Canadian goals came with the man advantage.
Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington made 20 saves, including on a Swiss penalty shot in the second with the game tied 2-2.
Cozens opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 1:42 of the first. But after Kevin Fiala tied the score at 11:15, Roman Loeffel put the Swiss ahead 2-1 at 5:03 of the second.
But Fiala’s kneeing major and game misconduct later in the second opened the door for Canada, which responded with two power-play goals.
Cozens made it 2-2 at 8:26 before Paul scored the eventual game-winner at 10:39. Cozens drew an assist as the Canadians took their one-goal lead into the third.
Sandwiched between those was Binnington’s blocker save on Sven Andrighetto on the Swiss penalty shot while short-handed.
Canada killed off two Swiss power plays in the first half of the third before the Swiss returned the favour later in the period. Switzerland removed goaltender Leonardo Genoni in favour of an extra attacker at 18:05 but couldn’t come up with the tying goal.