COLOGNE, Germany (AP) – Defending champion Canada and Russia continued their solid starts at the ice hockey world championships with resounding wins on Sunday.
Center Vladislav Namestnikov and left winger Artemi Panarin had two goals and two assists each, while left winger Sergei Andronov scored twice in Russia’s 10-1 win over Italy in Cologne. The speed and precision of Russia’s passing simply overwhelmed Italy. Center Nate Mackinnon, a 21-year-old rising star for the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL, had a hat-trick and an assist as Canada routed Slovenia 7-2 in Paris.
Defenseman Tyson Barrie – his Avalanche teammate – had a goal and three assists, including on two of Mackinnon’s goals. Forwards Mitch Marner, Brayden Point and Jeff Skinner had a goal each for Canada, which is looking to equal Russia’s tally of 27 world titles – 22 of those as the Soviet Union.
Slovenia was missing forward Ziga Jeglic as he sat out the first of a two-game suspension for a kicking violation against Switzerland on Saturday.
The tournament is being co-hosted by France and Germany, with the top four teams from each group going through to the quarterfinals.