TORONTO -- Team Canada scored twice in the final 2:53 to defeat Team Europe 2-1 at Air Canada Centre on Thursday to win the World Cup of Hockey 2016.
Team Canada swept the best-of-3 final. It won Game 1 on Tuesday 3-1.
Team Canada trailed 1-0 until Patrice Bergeron scored a power-play goal at 17:07 of the third. Brad Marchand scored the winning goal, shorthanded, with 43.1 seconds left.
Marchand's five goals led the World Cup.
Team Canada goaltender Carey Price and Team Europe goalie Jaroslav Halak each made 32 saves.
Sidney Crosby, who assisted on Bergeron's goal, was named World Cup MVP. His 10 points (three goals, seven assists) led the tournament.
Defenseman Zdeno Chara gave Team Europe the lead 6:26 into the first period on a wrist shot from the left circle that appeared to deflect off Team Canada's Steven Stamkos in front. Prior to that, Team Canada had trailed for 2:41 the entire tournament.
What We Learned:
Team Canada had to dig down deep late but again proved it is the best in the world, going 6-0-0 in the World Cup.
The first goal was huge for Team Europe, which gained some early confidence after it trailed 2-0 following a similarly good start in Game 1. Team Canada was flat at times in the two games of the final, but Team Europe deserved some credit for that because it played aggressively, generated turnovers and sustained offensive zone pressure.
Price, who missed most of the NHL season for the Montreal Canadiens after injuring his knee Nov. 25, appears to be in midseason form. He made 162 saves on 169 shots (.959 save percentage) in the tournament.
Each team struggled on the power play, but Team Canada finally came through when it counted after failing to convert its first four opportunities of the game.
What This Means for Team Canada:
Team Europe made it sweat some, but it continues to dominate the international stage, winning 16 in a row in best-on-best tournaments.
What This Means for Team Europe:
It surprised many by getting this far and pushed Team Canada in the final but fell short of its goal of winning the World Cup.
Key Moment:
Trailing 1-0, Team Canada got a power play with 3:35 remaining when Anze Kopitar was called for holding Corey Perry. After failing to score on its first four power plays, Team Canada came through with the tying goal when Bergeron deflected in Brent Burns' shot from the right point for his fourth goal. Marchand scored the game-winner, shorthanded, off a drop pass from Jonathan Toews.
Unsung player of the game: Team Canada defenseman Drew Doughty played a game-high 25:33 and had three hits and 11 shot attempts.
What's Next:
Team Canada celebrates hockey supremacy and everyone goes back to their NHL team to get ready for the start of the regular season.
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