Carey Price backstops Canada to overtime win against Russia
Czech Republic edge North America, Europe explodes for 6 goals in win over Sweden
Ryan Getzlaf beat Sergei Bobrovsky on a breakaway at 3:29 of overtime to give Team Canada to a 3-2 victory over Team Russia in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition Wednesday night.
Carey Price had 24 saves for Canada, which finished 2-1 in exhibitions before the eight-team tournament begins in Toronto this weekend.
Bobrovsky made 45 stops, some of them spectacular, but couldn't wrangle the puck when Getzlaf slipped it between his pads during the 3-on-3 extra session.
John Tavares and Patrice Bergeron scored for Canada. Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby assisted on Bergeron's score while playing on home ice at Consol Energy Center.
Artemi Panarin had a goal and an assist for the Russians. Alexander Ovechkin also scored. Evgeni Malkin assisted on Ovechkin's goal to match longtime Pittsburgh teammate Crosby.
Czech Republic 3, Team North America 2
Tomas Plekanec banked a backhander off Connor Hellebuyck's pads with just over eight minutes remaining and the Czech Republic held off Team North America 3-2 in a World Cup of Hockey exhibition game Wednesday.
North America — comprised of players 23 and under — overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie it midway through the third period on goals by Philadelphia Flyers defenceman Shayne Gostisbehere and Toronto Maple Leafs rookie Auston Matthews against Petr Mrazek.
Plekanec answered 53 seconds after Matthews' goal by taking a feed from Ales Hemsky from behind the net and knocking it off Hellebuyck's leg and over the goal line for his third goal in as many exhibition games.
Ondrej Palat and Radek Faska also scored for the Czech Republic. Mrazek stopped 17 of the 19 shots he faced after coming in for Michal Neuvirth at the game's midway point.
Matthew Murray, who helped the Pittsburgh Penguins to the franchise's fourth Stanley Cup last spring, made 16 saves for North America before being replaced by Hellebuyck.
The Czech Republic opens Saturday night against Canada. North America faces Finland on Sunday.
Team Europe 6, Sweden 2
Henrik Lundqvist got the hook after allowing five goals on 22 shots in Sweden's 6-2 loss to Team Europe on Wednesday night.
Leon Draisaitl had a hat trick and Tomas Tatar and Thomas Vanek scored on the New York Rangers goaltender, who was a victim of giveaways and defensive miscues but wasn't at his best. Jacob Markstrom replaced Lundqvist in the third period.
European captain Anze Kopitar added an empty-net goal.
Daniel Sedin scored on the power play and Patric Hornqvist at even strength for Sweden, which opens the World Cup on Sunday against high-powered Russia.
Jaroslav Halak stopped 34 of the 36 shots he faced to solidify the No. 1 goalie job for Europe, which looked ready to face the United States on Saturday after losing twice to the 23-and-under Team North America.