Canada clinches quarter-final berth at world hockey championship with 2-1 win
STOCKHOLM - Jeff Skinner scored on an end-to-end rush in the third period Sunday as Canada beat the Czech Republic 2-1 at the world hockey championship to clinch a spot in the quarter-finals.
The Carolina Hurricanes forward collected the puck in his own zone before weaving through the Czech defence and burying a wraparound behind goalie Ondrej Pavelec at 6:55 of the third period.
Wayne Simmonds had the other goal for Canada (5-0-1), which needed just a single point to clinch a spot in the next round. Mike Smith made 30 saves to get the win and also picked up an assist on Skinner's goal.
Petr Koukal replied for the Czechs (3-3-0), while Pavelec stopped 23 shots in taking the loss.
Canadian defenceman Luke Schenn was assessed a match penalty for checking from behind in the second period and is automatically suspended for Monday's final round-robin game against Slovenia.
The top four teams in each group of eight advance to the quarter-final round, which is where Canada has fallen out of medal contention the last three years.
