Nazar scores twice as U.S. outlasts Czechs at hockey worlds

STOCKHOLM — Chicago Blackhawks center Frank Nazar scored twice to help the United States rally for a 5-2 victory over Czechia and hand the titleholder its first defeat at the ice hockey world championship on Tuesday.

The victory lifted the Americans to second place in Group B in Herning, Denmark. Switzerland won the group, with the Czechs finishing third and Denmark fourth.

Tuesday’s results determined the pairings for the quarterfinals on Thursday: Canada vs. Denmark, the United States vs. Finland, Sweden vs. Czechia and Switzerland vs. Austria.

“I loved our effort and how we played to our identity,” Team USA coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “Give our power play credit too. Overall, great team effort and a good step forward as we continue to build.”

Nazar, 21, who had 12 goals and 26 points with Chicago last season, deflected a shot into the net to tie the game at 2-2 1:35 into the final period on a power play. He scored again on another power play, his sixth tally of the tournament.

Gauthier → Beniers tip → Nazar tip → goallll#MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/J6VulShaLx

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) May 20, 2025

Utah Hockey Club center Logan Cooley roofed a shot from close range to make it 4-2 with 6:31 to go and Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke finished it off with a goal into an empty net.

Josh Doan, also of the Utah Hockey Club, gave the Americans a 1-0 lead 9:25 into the game on a rebound with a backhand between the pads of goaltender Karel Vejmelka, Doan’s teammate in the NHL.

The U.S. dominated the first period, outshooting its opponent 23-8. The Czechs came back in the second, as Bruins superstar David Pastrnak tied the game on a breakaway 41 seconds into the period by beating his Boston teammate, Jeremy Swayman, for his sixth goal at the tournament.

Pastrnak then set up Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas in the left circle to one-time a shot that put the Czechs 2-1 up 8:33 into the middle period.

In Stockholm, Canada completed the preliminary stage with a 5-3 victory over Sweden to rebound from Monday’s 2-1 loss to Finland. Canada topped Group A with 19 points, with Sweden one point behind and Finland another two points back.

Travis Sanheim, a defenseman for the Philadelphia Flyers, was in front of the goal to put Canada ahead 18 seconds into the game, the second fastest goal at the tournament. Bruins center Elias Lindholm scored the equalizer 3:29 later with a shorthanded goal on a breakaway with his seventh goal.

Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster beat New Jersey Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom to restore Canada’s lead and Ryan O’Reilly, a veteran who played for the Nashville Predators last season, made it 3-1 against a team that had only conceded three goals in total in its six previous games at the worlds.

The Swedish team used a 5-on-3 power play to reduce the deficit through left wing Marcus Johansson, who plays for the Minnesota Wild, 3:02 into the middle period, but San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini collected a through pass from Sidney Crosby, the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins who holds the same title for Team Canada, to restore a two-goal advantage on a breakaway midway through the frame.

Flyers forward Travis Konecny was on his knees when he set up Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon for the fifth 4:11 into the final period — one of his three assists in the game.

The Swedes pulled Markstrom with 4:12 to go and Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson pulled one goal back.

Earlier, Austria reached the playoffs for the first time in 31 years after it defeated Latvia 6-1 and became the fourth and final team to advance to the quarterfinals from Group A. Finland defeated Slovakia 2-1, and Switzerland beat Kazakhstan 4-1, forcing the latter to be relegated after five years in the top division.

Finally, Denmark prevailed 2-1 over Germany after a penalty shootout to become the fourth and final team from Group B to advance.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.