photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
The 64 games over 17 days that comprised the 2026 IIHF World Championship are in the books. Here is a look back at some of the best games and most memorable moments from the tournament.
Game 3/Switzerland 4-United States 2
The hosts wasted no time in getting the sold-out crowd into the tournament, scoring two minutes into the game and skating to an impressive win. This was their first WM game as host since 2009.
Game 10/Slovenia 3-Czechia 2
Slovenia took the early lead but had to rally with the tying goal midway through the third to send the game to overtime. Marcel Mahkovec scored the winner, giving Slovenia an edge at the bottom of the standings while boosting their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
Game 13/Austria 4-Hungary 2
A vital game between two teams trying to avoid relegation, the Austrians got the advantage by scoring two goals 44 seconds apart early in the third to break a 1-1 tie.
Game 16/Norway 4-Slovenia 0
Jacob Berglund became the first Norwegian player ever to score three goals in a row, all in the second period.
Game 20/Czechia 4-Sweden 3
The Czechs jumped into an early 3-0 lead, and although Sweden drew close, they couldn’t get the tying goal in the third. This left Tre Kronor with a 1-2 record to start, putting their quarter-finals hopes in early trouble.
Game 24/Slovakia 5-Slovenia 4 (PSS)
The Slovaks led 1-0, 2-1, and 4-2, but Slovenia refused to say die. Rok Ticar scored the tying goal with 31 seconds left and an extra attacker on ice, but in the shootout the Slovaks had the edge, scoring three times.
Game 25/Switzerland 9-Austria 0
The score wasn’t much to brag about, but the shutout was the important detail. This was the 13th blank sheet of Leonardo Genoni’s career, the most all time. Of the many great goalies to play at the World Championship since 1930, no one had more than 12.
Game 27/United States 4-Germany 3 (PSS)
The Americans had to fight back from deficits of 1-0 and 3-2, but they were one shot better in the shootout thanks to Ryan Leonard’s winner.
Game 30/Canada 6-Norway 5 (OT)
A wild and thrilling game that brought out the best in both teams. Norway had early leads of 2-0 and 3-2; Canada led 4-3 and trailed 5-4; and, Ryan O’Reilly scored a late goal to send the game to a short fourth period. The game winner from Mark Scheifele was a highlight-reel gem, finishing off a gorgeous three-way passing play with Evan Bouchard and Macklin Celebrini.
Game 39/Switzerland 9-Hungary 0
Leonardo Genoni stopped ten shots, adding to his shutout record with now his 14th career goose egg.
Game 40/Czechia 3-Slovakia 2
The loudest and most energetic crowd of the Fribourg side of the tournament, this game was back and forth and thrilling in every way. It took a flukey goal from 40-year-old captain Roman Cervenka to decide the game midway through the third, but what a game.
Game 42/Norway 3-Sweden 2
If there were any doubters about this Norway team being different, this should have been a convincing result to quieten the noise. Norway led 1-0 and 2-1, but Sweden responded both times. Midway through the third, a goal from Eirik Salsten proved to be the winning score.
Game 47/United States 7-Hungary 3
U.S. forward Tommy Novak tied an IIHF WM record with five assists in thre game. He had two in the first, two in the second, and one in the third.
Game 51/Latvia 8-Hungary 1
Rudolfs Balcers scored his 7th goal of the tournament. He leads all players in goals. No Latvian has ever been tournament leader in this category.
Game 52/Norway 4-Denmark 3
The Danes trailed much of the time but kept fighting back, and with 1.1 seconds left in the game, Patrick Russell scored to send the game to OT. Just 13 seconds in, new arrival Michael Brandsegg-Nygard got his second of the game for the win.
Game 54/Sweden 4-Slovakia 2
The math was simple for both teams—win or go home. With a quarter-finals berth on the line, the Swedes came through, sending the Slovaks home in the process.
Game 56/Canada 3-Czechia 2
An all-Swedish crew of on-ice officials oversaw a gem. The Czechs jumped into a 2-0 lead, and then Sidney Crosby set up Macklin Celebrini for two incredible goals. John Tavares added the winner to keep Canada undefeated through the preliminary round for the second straight year.
Game 60/Norway 2-Latvia 0
Norway beat Latvia to advance to the semi-finals for the first time. Henrik Haukeland was brilliant in goal, stopping all 35 shots for his third shutout of the tournament. His record improved to 6-0.
Game 63/Norway 3-Canada 2
Norway had the lead for most of the game, but Canada fought back from 2-0 down and tied the score in the dying seconds to force overtime. But Noah Steen, with his tournament-best 7th goal (tying Balcers), won the game in overtime. This was the first ever medal for Norway at the World Championship.
Game 64/Finland 1-Switzerland 0
Konsta Helenius was the golden goal hero for the Finns, scoring the only goal of the game midway through the first overtime period. The Swiss were left to take silver for the fifth straight time since 2013. They have not scored a goal in a gold-medal game since 2018 (four games ago).
Game 3/Switzerland 4-United States 2
The hosts wasted no time in getting the sold-out crowd into the tournament, scoring two minutes into the game and skating to an impressive win. This was their first WM game as host since 2009.
Game 10/Slovenia 3-Czechia 2
Slovenia took the early lead but had to rally with the tying goal midway through the third to send the game to overtime. Marcel Mahkovec scored the winner, giving Slovenia an edge at the bottom of the standings while boosting their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
Game 13/Austria 4-Hungary 2
A vital game between two teams trying to avoid relegation, the Austrians got the advantage by scoring two goals 44 seconds apart early in the third to break a 1-1 tie.
Game 16/Norway 4-Slovenia 0
Jacob Berglund became the first Norwegian player ever to score three goals in a row, all in the second period.
Game 20/Czechia 4-Sweden 3
The Czechs jumped into an early 3-0 lead, and although Sweden drew close, they couldn’t get the tying goal in the third. This left Tre Kronor with a 1-2 record to start, putting their quarter-finals hopes in early trouble.
Game 24/Slovakia 5-Slovenia 4 (PSS)
The Slovaks led 1-0, 2-1, and 4-2, but Slovenia refused to say die. Rok Ticar scored the tying goal with 31 seconds left and an extra attacker on ice, but in the shootout the Slovaks had the edge, scoring three times.
Game 25/Switzerland 9-Austria 0
The score wasn’t much to brag about, but the shutout was the important detail. This was the 13th blank sheet of Leonardo Genoni’s career, the most all time. Of the many great goalies to play at the World Championship since 1930, no one had more than 12.
Game 27/United States 4-Germany 3 (PSS)
The Americans had to fight back from deficits of 1-0 and 3-2, but they were one shot better in the shootout thanks to Ryan Leonard’s winner.
Game 30/Canada 6-Norway 5 (OT)
A wild and thrilling game that brought out the best in both teams. Norway had early leads of 2-0 and 3-2; Canada led 4-3 and trailed 5-4; and, Ryan O’Reilly scored a late goal to send the game to a short fourth period. The game winner from Mark Scheifele was a highlight-reel gem, finishing off a gorgeous three-way passing play with Evan Bouchard and Macklin Celebrini.
Game 39/Switzerland 9-Hungary 0
Leonardo Genoni stopped ten shots, adding to his shutout record with now his 14th career goose egg.
Game 40/Czechia 3-Slovakia 2
The loudest and most energetic crowd of the Fribourg side of the tournament, this game was back and forth and thrilling in every way. It took a flukey goal from 40-year-old captain Roman Cervenka to decide the game midway through the third, but what a game.
Game 42/Norway 3-Sweden 2
If there were any doubters about this Norway team being different, this should have been a convincing result to quieten the noise. Norway led 1-0 and 2-1, but Sweden responded both times. Midway through the third, a goal from Eirik Salsten proved to be the winning score.
Game 47/United States 7-Hungary 3
U.S. forward Tommy Novak tied an IIHF WM record with five assists in thre game. He had two in the first, two in the second, and one in the third.
Game 51/Latvia 8-Hungary 1
Rudolfs Balcers scored his 7th goal of the tournament. He leads all players in goals. No Latvian has ever been tournament leader in this category.
Game 52/Norway 4-Denmark 3
The Danes trailed much of the time but kept fighting back, and with 1.1 seconds left in the game, Patrick Russell scored to send the game to OT. Just 13 seconds in, new arrival Michael Brandsegg-Nygard got his second of the game for the win.
Game 54/Sweden 4-Slovakia 2
The math was simple for both teams—win or go home. With a quarter-finals berth on the line, the Swedes came through, sending the Slovaks home in the process.
Game 56/Canada 3-Czechia 2
An all-Swedish crew of on-ice officials oversaw a gem. The Czechs jumped into a 2-0 lead, and then Sidney Crosby set up Macklin Celebrini for two incredible goals. John Tavares added the winner to keep Canada undefeated through the preliminary round for the second straight year.
Game 60/Norway 2-Latvia 0
Norway beat Latvia to advance to the semi-finals for the first time. Henrik Haukeland was brilliant in goal, stopping all 35 shots for his third shutout of the tournament. His record improved to 6-0.
Game 63/Norway 3-Canada 2
Norway had the lead for most of the game, but Canada fought back from 2-0 down and tied the score in the dying seconds to force overtime. But Noah Steen, with his tournament-best 7th goal (tying Balcers), won the game in overtime. This was the first ever medal for Norway at the World Championship.
Game 64/Finland 1-Switzerland 0
Konsta Helenius was the golden goal hero for the Finns, scoring the only goal of the game midway through the first overtime period. The Swiss were left to take silver for the fifth straight time since 2013. They have not scored a goal in a gold-medal game since 2018 (four games ago).