HERNING, Denmark — Nick Olesen scored with 49 seconds left and Denmark stunned Canada, 2-1, at the ice hockey world championship Thursday to advance to the semifinals.
“I have no words, it’s unbelievable,” Olesen said after Denmark reached the last four for the first time. “The fans here were cheering for us the whole game and they helped us get the win. It’s crazy.”
Denmark, in the sold-out arena in Herning, had tied it with 2:17 remaining when Nikolaj Ehlers scored through traffic in only his second game at the tournament following his Jets being eliminated from the NHL playoffs.
The Danes had pulled goaltender Frederik Dichow for the extra attacker before Ehlers struck.
Canada outshot Denmark, 30-11, in the first two periods but couldn’t solve Dichow, who made 39 saves in all, until 5:17 into the third when captain Sidney Crosby fed Travis Sanheim to score into the roof of the net. Canada was outshot 22-10 in the final period, though.
NICK OLESEN GIVES DENMARK THE LEAD WITH UNDER A MINUTE TO PLAY! 😱🇩🇰#MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/NThsHSRie9
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 22, 2025
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Denmark has only two NHL players at the worlds, while Canada has only two who don’t play at the NHL.
“I’m disappointed,” Crosby said. “We got better as the tournament went on. I don’t think tonight was necessarily our best but we still found a way to give ourselves a lead . . . but it turned pretty quick.”
Crosby returned to the worlds after 10 years when he captained Canada to gold. He was expected to do it again with teammates like Nathan MacKinnon.
Canada is the most successful nation at the tournament with 28 titles but has finished empty handed in the last two editions after it was beaten by Sweden in the bronze medal game last year.
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It was only the second win for Denmark over Canada at the worlds.
The semifinals are set for Saturday: Denmark will play Switzerland; and the United States will face Sweden.
Sweden delighted the home crowd in the Avicii Arena in Stockholm by eliminating defending champion Czech Republic with a 5-2 victory.
Lucas Raymond and Leo Carlsson led the co-host with two goals each.
Bruins forward David Pastrnak had an assist for the Czechs.