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From Russia with gold: Matheson, Canada top Finland to take 2016 IIHF Worlds

Canada won a second straight IIHF World Championship with a smothering 2-0 victory over previously undefeated Finland Sunday night in Moscow.

Part of the suffocating defensive blanket was Florida Panthers rookie defenseman Mike Matheson.

The 22-year-old finished the game with one shot on goal and a +1 rating in 13:30 TOI. He was on the ice for Connor McDavid‘s first period goal which turned out to be the game-winner. Matt Duchene iced the tilt with a empty-net goal with one second remaining.

Aleksander Barkov logged 18:37 of ice time for the Finns, finishing with no shots on goal and a -1 rating. Barkov went 7 of 15 in the faceoff dot.

Jussi Jokinen registered two shots on Cam Talbot, who made 16 stops, and ended the tilt with an even rating in 18:07 TOI..

In the bronze medal game, host Russia hammered the U.S. by a 7-2 count.

Matheson built on his strong performance in the NHL playoffs by scoring 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 games, while going +11, which was the third-best mark in the tournament. His six points trailed only Russia’s Anton Belov among defensemen.

Jokinen played in all 10 games and finished up with 3 goals and 7 assists and a +5 rating.

Barkov played in 9 games for the Finns and scored 3 goals and 6 assists. He finished the tournament with a +3 rating.

All in all, an impressive showing for the trio representing the Panthers on the international level. More of the same should be expected at September’s World Cup of Hockey in Toronto.