HELSINKI — Canada's ice dance darlings Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir have captured their third world figure skating title.

The Olympic gold and silver medallists, who took a huge 5.5-point lead into the free dance, scored 116.19 for their program to "Pilgrims on a Long Journey" by French Canadian artist Coeur de pirate, and Sam Smith's "Latch," despite a near fall by Moir. He stumbled to one knee coming out of a step sequence, prompting an audible gasp from the crowd at Helsinki's Hartwell Arena.

They finished with 198.62 points overall.

Virtue, from London, Ont., and Moir, from Ilderton, Ont., made a stunning comeback after stepping away from the sport for two seasons. They've won every one of their events this season, shattering world records along the way.

"We've never had a quote-unquote perfect season, never had that kind of run of golds, and at this point it's fun to have on our resume," Virtue said. "But more than that, what we've been able to accomplish personally as athletes has been the most satisfying."

They broke their own world record in the short dance on Friday.

Moir's spill meant the Canadians lost ground to second-placed French pair Gabriella Papadakis and Guillaume Cizeron. Virtue and Moir were subdued as they left the ice, but their five-point lead from the short dance was enough to keep them ahead of the French.

"It's not the way we thought we would win. Maybe that was part of the reaction (after the skate), but we're so excited and it means a lot to us," Virtue said.

Papadakis and Cizeron took second with 196.04 after breaking their own record in the free dance with 119.15.

The United States won its only medal of the worlds as siblings Maia and Alex Shibutani took bronze with 185.18.

Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje of Waterloo, Ont., finished fourth with a score of 184.81. Toronto's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier of Unionville, Ont., were eighth with 178.99 points.

Earlier Saturday, Toronto's Patrick Chan missed the medal podium in the men's competition. The three-time world champion finished fifth, falling two spots after Saturday's free program.

Chan, who was fifth last year in Boston, scored 193.04 points for his program to "A Journey," a piece of music written by Canadian pairs skater Eric Radford, finishing with 295.16 points overall.

Japan's Olympic gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu landed four quads for a world-record free skate score of 223.30 points and a total of 321.59 points to take gold after entering the day fifth.

Japan's Shoma Uno (319.31) won silver, while China's Jin Boyang (303.58.) took bronze.

Kevin Reynolds of Coquitlam, B.C., was ninth with a score of 253.84.