Canada defeated Norway after overtime in one of the most dramatic games of the World Championship
The Canadian national ice hockey team defeated Norway 6:5 after overtime in a preliminary-round game of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship for men, played on May 21 at the BCF Arena in Fribourg. The contest ended after only 29 seconds of extra time, when Mark Scheifele scored his third goal of the game and completed a hat-trick. According to the official report of the International Ice Hockey Federation, the winning move was started by Macklin Celebrini entering the attacking third, Evan Bouchard then found Scheifele at the far post, and the Canadian forward put the puck into the net for the final 6:5.
The game was one of the most exciting in the tournament so far because it produced as many as eleven goals, several lead changes and a conclusion in which Norway was on the verge of a major upset. According to the official game sheet, Canada led after overtime, but during the match had to overcome deficits of 0:2, 2:3 and 4:5. Norway showed far more attacking efficiency than expected against one of the strongest hockey national teams in the world, and according to the IIHF report this was the first time that Norway had scored five goals in head-to-head meetings with Canada.
For Canada, the result meant the continuation of a perfect record in Group B. After the game, the IIHF announced that the Canadian national team had taken sole possession of first place in the group with 12 points from four appearances. Norway, despite the defeat, earned a point because the game went to overtime and after four played games had seven points and held fourth position in the group. That point could be important in the fight for the quarter-finals, since the four best national teams from each group advance.
Norway opened the game without fear of the favourite
Norway entered the game better and already in the first period showed that it would not play only to limit the damage. According to the IIHF report, Eskild Bakke Olsen scored for 1:0 at 5 minutes and 18 seconds after he was given space in the middle of the attacking zone and beat Canadian goaltender Cam Talbot with a precise shot. Six minutes later Norway increased the lead through Johannes Johannesen, whose shot from the blue line went through traffic in front of the goal and ended up in the net.
Canada nevertheless avoided a bigger problem by the end of the first period. Scheifele made it 2:1 at 13 minutes and 30 seconds with a goal from a difficult position, after Norway failed to clear the puck from its zone. Four minutes later the same player was accurate again, this time after a pass from Parker Wotherspoon, tying the score at 2:2 and fully bringing Canada back into the game. Although Canada had more possession and several power-play situations, Norway came out of the first period with clear confirmation that it could create problems for favourites.
The beginning of the second period brought a new Norwegian response. Noah Steen scored for 3:2 after a move by Petter Vesterheim, with which the team of head coach Petter Thoresen took the lead once again. Canada equalized midway through the period through Gabriel Vilardi, who used a rebound after Norwegian goaltender Tobias Normann had stopped the previous attempt. By the end of the second period, both teams had chances, and the Norwegian chance of Mikkel Eriksen in front of an empty goal stood out in particular, which the official IIHF report lists as one of the most dangerous situations of the game.
Turnarounds in the third period and Canada’s late rescue
The third period began with a Canadian turnaround. Dylan Cozens scored short-handed just 31 seconds after the restart, after he intercepted a Norwegian attack and went alone toward goal. That goal gave Canada its first lead of the game, but it did not break Norway. On the contrary, the Norwegian national team responded with two quick goals in a span of less than two minutes and turned the result around again.
Christian Kaasastul tied it at 4:4 with a long-range shot at 8 minutes and 9 seconds of the third period, and Tinus Luc Koblar scored for 5:4 at 9 minutes and 57 seconds. According to Norway’s VG, that moment caused a major celebration on the Norwegian bench because the national team had come to the brink of victory against Canada. Norway defended the lead in the closing stages, but failed to hold out until the end of regulation.
Ryan O’Reilly tied the score at 5:5 one minute and 39 seconds before the end of the third period, after deflecting a shot by Macklin Celebrini. That goal sent the game to overtime and changed the psychological dynamic of the finish. Canada settled extra time almost immediately: Scheifele scored the winning goal in the 29th second of overtime, allowing Canada to avoid a defeat that would have been one of the biggest surprises of the tournament.
Scheifele led Canada, Bouchard and Celebrini key in creation
Mark Scheifele was the central figure of the Canadian victory. With three goals, including the decisive one in overtime, he took over the main attacking role in a game in which Canada did not have its usual defensive stability. According to the official IIHF text, Scheifele said after the meeting that the game was “wild”, but also that the team showed resilience. He especially praised his play with Macklin Celebrini, emphasizing that with such a teammate a forward must constantly get open because the puck will arrive at the right moment.
An important contribution was also made by Evan Bouchard, who according to an Edmonton Oilers post recorded three assists, including the pass in the move for the winning goal. Celebrini was also among Canada’s most important players because he participated in the plays for the equalizer late in the third period and for the victory in overtime. In Canada’s attack, the combinations changed during the game, and the IIHF states that Sidney Crosby and Celebrini played with Porter Martone in the first two periods, then with Scheifele during most of the third period, and in the closing stages also with O’Reilly.
For Norway, the goals were scored by Eskild Bakke Olsen, Johannes Johannesen, Noah Steen, Christian Kaasastul and Tinus Luc Koblar. Five different scorers show the breadth of Norway’s attacking contribution in a game in which the Scandinavians found a way through the Canadian defence several times. Norway captain Andreas Martinsen told the IIHF that winning a point against Canada, given the quality of the opponent and a roster full of top players, was “huge” for his team.
The Norwegian point may be important in the fight for the quarter-finals
Although the overtime defeat leaves the impression of a missed opportunity, Norway left Fribourg with a point that may be very valuable in Group B. According to VG’s report, Norway had seven points after four games and was in fourth place, and by the end of the preliminary stage it still had meetings with Sweden, Czechia and Denmark. In such a schedule, every point against favourites can carry weight in the final standings.
Norwegian head coach Petter Thoresen after the game, according to VG, emphasized that his team scored five goals against Canada, but also that it is difficult to win when conceding six. That statement well summarizes the dual nature of Norway’s game: offensively it was one of the national team’s best performances at the tournament, but defensively it was not enough for a sensation. Norway nevertheless showed that it can play openly and bravely against an opponent that belongs to the very top of world hockey.
For Canada, the game was a warning, but also confirmation of the team’s depth. The team found a way to win even in a meeting in which it conceded five goals, lost control several times and had to chase the result in the very final stages. Such games often have special value in a tournament format because they show a favourite its weaknesses before the elimination stage, but at the same time strengthen confidence in attacking quality and the ability to come back.
The tournament in Switzerland enters the key part of the groups
The 2026 World Championship is being held in Switzerland from May 15 to 31, with Zürich and Fribourg hosting the games. BCF Arena in Fribourg, where the Canada-Norway meeting was played, is one of the two main venues of the tournament. According to the official Hockey Canada and IIHF schedule, the Canada – Norway game was the 30th meeting of the championship and belonged to the preliminary stage of the competition.
After the win over Norway, Canada was set to continue its campaign with a game against Slovenia, while Norway had a day of rest before a duel with Sweden. The schedule is important for both national teams because in the closing part of the group not only advancement to the quarter-finals is decided, but also position in the knockout stage. A higher placement in the group can bring a more favourable opponent in the quarter-finals, while any slip-up against direct competitors can change the entire picture of the standings.
The dramatic 6:5 in Fribourg was therefore not only a spectacular result with a large number of goals. The game showed how quickly the balance of power on the ice can change, how important efficiency in the closing stages is and how much a point won against a favourite can mean to a national team fighting to advance. Canada maintained a perfect record, Norway despite the defeat received confirmation of competitiveness, and the tournament in Switzerland got one of the games that will be remembered for its rhythm, turnarounds and overtime finish.
Sources:
- IIHF – report from the Canada – Norway game and description of the key moments of the meeting (link)
- Hockey Canada – official game summary, result, date, competition stage and venue (link)
- Hockey Canada – schedule and results of the 2026 World Championship (link)
- Associated Press – agency report on Mark Scheifele’s winning goal in overtime (link)
- VG – Norwegian report on the course of the game, Norway’s scorers and the group situation after the meeting (link)