Denmark won 3-2 against Canada at the 2022 Ice Hockey World Championships and following four successive wins, the Danish hosts, riding high on confidence, went into the match with the ambition of copying that performance.
However, the hosts struggled to get going against a Canadian outfit who led 18-4 in the shots on goal statistics in a first period in which Danish keeper Frederik Dichow produced a string of amazing reflex saves to keep the score at bay.
The Canadians put the Danes under tremendous pressure with effective forechecking and the hosts often struggled to clear their own zone, a scenario which continued in the second period where Denmark have often struggled to keep up their pace throughourt the tournament.
But despite having to survive three two-minute penalties, the Danes fought on heroically against a side with several NHL-All-stars.
The Danes even managed to get the puck in the Canadian net in the second period after Morten Poulsen was sent clean through but the goal was ruled out for a handpass.
Having survived a virtual Canadian siege at the end of the second period, the Danes then took control of the beginning of the third period and fashioned a number of great chances where only superb goalkeeping by St. Lous Blues keeper Jordan Binnington prevented the Danes from taking a shock lead.
But while the Danes were enjoying the momentum, the Canadians finally managed to take the lead, when quick and creative short-passing set up Philadelphia Flyers defender Travis Sanheim to hammer the puck past the reach of Dichow.
The Danes, playing one of their best matches in the history of the World Championships, refused to surrender and with around two minutes left in the match, the Danes brought the arena to its feet wit a goal from Nikolaj Ehlers.
And just as everyone thought the game was heading into overtime, Nick Olesen decided the game in Danish favor.
