Florida Panthers center Aleksander Barkov scored the eventual game-winning goal and added an assist in Finland’s 3-1 win over France in Saturday Group B action from the IIHF World Championship in Russia.
Barkov scored from Patrik Laine and fellow Panther Jussi Jokinen at the 10:40 mark of the second period to put the Finns up by a 2-0 count.
The trio combined for Finland’s third marker 4:10 later with Laine getting the goal and Barkov and Jokinen picking up the helpers.
Barkov logged 18:16 TOI and finished with the game with two shots on goal and +2 rating.
Jokinen also posted a +2 rating and went shot-less in 16:54 of ice time.
Finland is now 5-0 and tied with Canada atop the Group B standings.
The Canadians pounded Slovakia 5-0 with Edmonton’s Cam Talbot posting an 18-save shutout.
Mike Matheson logged 13:34 of ice time and finished the game with no shots and a +1 rating.
Taylor Hall, Matt Duchene, Derick Brassard, Morgan Rielly, and Mark Scheifele scored the goals.
Matheson and Brassard lead the tournament with a +10 rating.
In other games not involving Panther players, Sweden edged Norway 3-2, Russia handled Switzerland 5-1, Hungary beat Belarus 5-2, and Latvia squeaked by Kazakhstan 2-1. The loss means Kazakhstan will be relegated to Division IA next year.
Barkov, Jokinen and Finland will take on Slovakia today. Matheson and Canada will face France on Monday.