Mark Scheifele completed a hat trick with a dazzling overtime winner just 29 seconds in, lifting Canada to a thrilling 6-5 victory over Norway on Thursday at the 2026 IIHF World Championship in Fribourg. In a game that was far closer than expected, Norway jumped out to a 2-0 lead and even grabbed a 5-4 advantage midway through the third on quick goals from Noah Steen and Tinus Luc Koblar. Canada showed resilience by pulling Cam Talbot late and tying it on Ryan O’Reilly’s goal, before Scheifele—fed by a slick back-door pass from Evan Bouchard after Macklin Celebrini carried the puck in—tapped home the game-winner for his third of the night and a four-point performance. Gabriel Vilardi and Dylan Cozens also scored for Canada, while Bouchard added three assists. Talbot stopped just 14 of 19 shots in a shaky outing that drew plenty of fan frustration, with calls to bench him as the clear third-string option going forward. Norway earned praise for a hard-fought effort that nearly produced a massive upset against a star-studded Canadian roster.
The win gives Canada sole possession of first place in Group B at a perfect 4-0 with 12 points; they face Slovenia on Friday. Scheifele, who had been quiet earlier in the tournament, silenced any doubts and reminded everyone why his absence from past Olympic discussions felt like a major oversight, as fans celebrated the gritty comeback while stressing the need for tighter defense and better goaltending against stronger tests ahead. Norway sits alone in fourth with seven points.
Eskild Bakke Olsen who plays for Linkoping HC in Sweden made it a 1-0 game for Norway at 5:18 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Malmo Redhawk Petter Vesterheim and Stavanger Oiler Patrick Elvsveen–Norway opened the scoring at 5:18 when Eskild Bakke Olsen capitalized on a smart individual play. With the puck in the slot and no Canadian defender challenging him, he stepped in and beat Cam Talbot high over the blocker.
Johannes Johannesen makes it a 2-0 game for the Norwegians at 11:37 of the first period. The assists on the goal went to Andreas Martinsen and Leksands HC’s Tinus Luc Koblar–Norway struck again shortly after, capitalizing on a faceoff win in the Canadian zone. The puck wobbled back to Johannes Johannesen at the point, and he ripped a hard, knuckling shot that beat Cam Talbot to the glove side.
Winnipeg Jet and Kitchener, Ontario native Mark Scheifele gets Canada on the board at 13:30 of the first period to get the Canadians within one. The goal was unassisted.–Scheifele got Canada on the board at 13:30. After Norway failed to clear the zone, he managed to get a shot away while falling to the ice and beat Tobias Normann glove side to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Mark Scheifele gets his second goal of the game at 17:50 of the first period. The helpers on the goal went to Parker Wotherspoon and Gabriel Vilardi.–Four minutes later, Scheifele tied the game. He received a perfect setup pass from Parker Wotherspoon in the slot and snapped a harder shot past Normann’s blocker.
Shots on goal in the first period were 13-7 for Canada
21 year old Syracuse Crunch forward Noah Steen gives Norway a 3-2 lead at 3:34 of the second period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Petter Vesterheim and Johannes Johannesen–Norway showed their resilience early in the second when they finally had a power play of their own. Petter Vesterheim found Noah Steen in front, and Steen tipped in the qiuck pass at 3:34 to give the Norwegians another lead.
Gabe Vilardi made tied the game back up for the Canadians at 11:57 of the second period while on the Power Play. The assists on the goal went to Mark Scheifele and Edmonton Oiler Evan Bouchard.–Scheifele answered right back on a Canadian power play in the second period. Normann kicked out his initial shot, but Gabriel Vilardi was quick to pounce on the loose puck and jam it in at 11:57, putting Canada in front..
Shots on goal in the second period were 15-6 for the Canadians
The Workhorse from Whitehorse former Lethbridge Hurricane Dylan Cozens scores short handed just 34 seconds into the third period to give Canada a 4-3 lead. The goal was assisted by everyone’s favorite Oiler Darnell Nurse.–In a tied game early in the third period with Norway on the power play, Dylan Cozens turned predator at the Canadian blue line, stripping the puck from a bumbling defenseman and exploding away on a shorthanded breakaway like a rocket. He deked the goalie inside-out with a filthy move and slid home the go-ahead goal, delivering pure speed, skill, and killer instinct that ignited Canada in their wild 6-5 overtime victory.
2024 Tampa Bay Lightning 7th rounder Noah Steen made it a 4-4 game at 8:09 of the third period. The assist on the goal went to former ECHL Greenville Swap Rabbit Christian Kaasastul.
Toronto Maple Leafs 2025 2nd rounder Tinus Luc Koblar gave Norway a 5-4 lead at 9:57 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to former Calgary Wrangler Emilio Pettersen and Johannes Johannesen
Ryan O’Reilly ties the game up for the Canadians at 18:21 of the third period. The assists on the goal went to San Jose Shark Macklin Celebrini and Evan Bouchard–With Norway leading 5-4 and just 1:39 left in regulation, Canada pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, and veteran Ryan O’Reilly turned into a sniper in the slot. Macklin Celebrini wired a heavy shot from the point; O’Reilly got his stick on it with perfect timing, deftly tipping the puck past Normann to tie the game and ignite the comeback in their wild 6-5 overtime thriller. Pure veteran poise and clutch finish when it mattered most.
Shots on goal in the third period were 13-6 for the Canadians.
Mark Scheifele got the game winning goal completing his hat trick to give Canada a 6-5 win just 29 seconds into overtime. The assists on the goal went to Macklin Celebrini and Evan Bouchard.–Canada’s Mark Scheifele scored the overtime winner just 29 seconds in, securing a wild 6-5 victory over Norway in Fribourg with his third goal of the game to complete a hat trick. Macklin Celebrini carried the puck in, set up Evan Bouchard, and Bouchard delivered a perfect back-door pass that Scheifele simply tapped home for the game-winning goal.
Shots on goal in overtime were 1-0 for Canada. Canada outshot Norway 42-19 in the game.
Cam Talbot stopped 14 of the 19 shots that he faced for the win for the Canadians. For Norway Frolunda HC’s Tobias Normann stopped 36 of the 42 shots that he faced.
Canadas next game is Friday May 22nd against Slovenia
