Shannon Coulter
Canada’s National Men’s Team looks to remain undefeated in the preliminary round when it faces Slovakia on Saturday at the 2025 IIHF World Championship at Avicii Arena.
Last Game
Canada improved to 4-0 in Sweden with a 5-1 win over Austria on Thursday. The Austrians got on the board first, but the Canadians responded with five unanswered goals. Nathan MacKinnon scored twice and added an assist, and Travis Konecny and Will Cuylle had a goal and an assist each. Sidney Crosby scored, Brandon Montour set up three goals and Marc-André Fleury made 15 saves in his second start.
Slovakia earned its second victory on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over France. Martin Chromiak opened the scoring for the Slovaks midway through the second period. Mislav Rosandic scored the game-winner on the power play in the final frame and Samuel Hlavaj stopped 19 shots for the win.
Last Meeting
Canada and Slovakia faced off in the quarterfinals a year ago, with the Canadians recording a 6-3 win. The Canadians had a quick start, with Jared McCann and Pierre-Luc Dubois scoring within the first five minutes. Nick Paul scored twice—including an empty-net goal—while Dylan Guenther and Brandon Tanev rounded out the scoring, and Jordan Binnington made 18 saves.
What to Watch
Special teams have been a difference-maker for Canada through four games. It has yet to give up a goal while a man short, killing all nine opposition power plays. With the man advantage, the Canadians are 6-for-15, with Bo Horvat contributing half of those power-play goals. Nathan MacKinnon made quick work on the power play against Austria, scoring eight seconds into the man-advantage. His second goal came during a delayed Austrian penalty—Canada held puck possession for 2:15 before MacKinnon sniped his second goal of the game. The 29-year-old leads Canada with four goals and eight points, good for second in tournament scoring.
Slovakia has made the quarterfinals in three of the last four editions of Men’s Worlds. They have seven players under contract with NHL teams, including Samuel Honzek, who was selected 16th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2023. The 20-year-old spent the majority of his season with the AHL’s Calgary Wranglers, recording eight goals and 21 points in 52 games. Goaltender Samuel Hlavaj is a Minnesota Wild prospect who registered a .904 save percentage and 2.85 goals-against average with the AHL’s Iowa Wild this season. The 23-year-old has made three starts in Stockholm, holding a 2-1 record with a .932 save percentage and 1.30 goals-against average.
A Look Back
Canada has won the last six meetings with Slovakia since 2024, and 14 of the 18 all-time meetings going back to 1996 when Slovakia returned to the Top Division after the dissolution of Czechoslovakia.
Although Canada has an advantage in goal differential, the Slovaks can keep these games close. In 2019, the Canadians edged Slovakia in a thrilling 6-5 win. The game appeared destined for overtime before Mark Stone—celebrating his 27th birthday—recorded the game-winning goal on a power play with 1.8 seconds remaining in regulation.
All-time record: Canada leads 14-2-2 (1-0 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 71 Slovakia goals: 43