UFA, Russia, December 31 (R-Sport) - An in-form Canadian team continued their perfect record at the world junior hockey championships with a 4-1 win over Russia that gives the Canadians the top spot in their group.
Both teams had already qualified for the playoffs, but the Canadians' win puts them into the semfinals, while Russia must negotiate a quarterfinal against Switzerland.
The other team in the semifinals is Sweden, while the Czech Republic and the United States play the second quarterfinal.
Canada started brightly with first-period goals for Dougie Hamilton and Mark Scheifele, before Nikita Sucherov's strike for the Russians made it a one-point game at 2-1.
Jonathan Drouin's second-period strike extended Canada's lead before Jonathan Huberdeau made it 4-1.