Connor Bedard's record-tying night helps Canada dismantle Austria on Thursday

The final game of Day 4 at the 2023 World Juniors saw a David and Goliath-type of battle as the last place team in Group A, Austria, took on the hosts, Canada.

Canada is coming off a blowout 11-2 win over the Germans on Wednesday, after losing their opening game of the tournament on Monday to Czechia. As for the Austrians, they have been terrible in their first two games of the 2023 World Juniors, losing 11-0 to Sweden and 9-0 to Czechia.

The game started off pretty slow and Austria was even outshooting Canada through the first ten minutes of the first period.

Canada ultimately opened the scoring on the powerplay. Brennan Othmann has the puck in front of the Austrian net and made a backhand, no-look pass through his legs to Dylan Guenther, who made it 1-0 Canada.

Dylan Guenther taps in Brennan Othmann's no-look pass 🔥

Canada takes a 1-0 lead.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/sXpM3XIi8h— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

With just over four minutes remaining in the opening period, Vegas Golden Knights prospect Zach Dean extended Canada's lead to 2-0. Dean had the puck near the top of the circle and fired it home through a partial screen.

Zach Dean scores his first goal of the World Juniors to extend Canada's lead 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/xDNy94IhFM— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

Shane Wright would then put Canada up by three with under two minutes to play in the first. Connor Bedard brought the puck into Austria's zone, used the space given to him and found Wright open in front, who put it over the glove of Benedikt Oschgan, who was screened by Dylan Guenther, to make it 3-0 Canada.

CAPTAIN CANADA STRIKES ⚡️

Bedard finds Wright who converts on the power-play to make it 3-0 for Canada in the 1st period!#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/7Szpc3ozj8— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

Canada's offensive outburst continued into the second period, as they scored four times, extending their lead over Austria to 7-0.

Nearly three minutes into the middle period, Montreal Canadiens prospect Joshua Roy picked up his second of the tournament. Los Angeles Kings defenceman Brandt Clarke made a nice pass to the front of the net and Roy just got enough on it to slide it through the pads of Oschgan. 4-0 Canada.

Joshua Roy taps in the pass from Clarke and Canada's lead is 4.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/7C6C4JUMZG— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

Canada struck again 31 seconds later as Connor Bedard rifled a shot from a ridiculous angle, just under the bar, to extend his nation's lead to 5-0.

Connor Bedard scores from a ridiculous angle 😮#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/NRJ95HPajZ— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

Just over two minutes later, Canada got on the board once again. Chicago Blackhawks prospect Nolan Allen picked up his first of the tournament, shooting the puck from the point through traffic to make it 6-0 Canada.

Nolan Allan gets one through to make it 6-0 for Canada! #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/BH4ep8ugCV— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

Dallas Stars prospect Logan Stankoven scored his second of the tournament late in the second period. Stankoven was whacking at the loose puck at the side of Austria's net. The puck appeared to cross the line, hitting just under where the crossbar and post meet. There was no call right away and the play continued, then at the next T.V. timeout, the officials took a look and determined that the puck did indeed cross the goal line, giving Canada a 7-0 lead.

After review, Logan Stankoven was credited with a goal on this play 🚨

Canada leads 7-0.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/XAuQFZqwDe— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

For the second straight game, Canada hit double digits, as they went on to add four more goals in the third period.

2023 projected top-three pick Adam Fantilli finally scored his first of the tournament, firing the puck through several bodies from the top of the slot, making it 8-0 Canada.

Adam Fantilli with his first goal at #WorldJuniors!
🐒📴🔙

pic.twitter.com/cYXKke4uGP— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) December 30, 2022

With a little over eight minutes to play in the third period, Anaheim Ducks prospect Nathan Gaucher scored his first of the tournament, tapping home a pass from Colton Dach. 9-0 Canada.

Nathan Gaucher pots home his first of the tournament to make it 9-0 Canada 🚨#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/ckiGaboiQ1— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

A little while later, Connor Bedard made history, once again. With his second goal of the night, Bedard tied Jordan Eberle for most goals by a Canadian in World Junior history with 14. He also now sits second all-time for points by a Canadian at the World Juniors with 27.

Connor Bedard has tied Jordan Eberle's Canadian record for most goals at the #WorldJuniors with 14 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/l4czCNerec— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2022

Canada added an 11th goal on the night, as Anaheim Ducks prospect Tyson Hinds scored his first of the tournament, picking up a rebound from a shot off the crossbar. 11-0 Canada.

Tyson Hinds (#FlyTogether) gets a goal of his own, picking up the loose puck and sending it home.

Logan Stankoven (#TexasHockey) and Joshua Roy (#GoHabsGo) the assists on the play.

🎥: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/Qz1gyH1w1x— EP Rinkside (@EPRinkside) December 30, 2022

With the win, Canada improves to 2-0-0-1 on the tournament and sits third in Group A with six points. Austria remains in fifth in Group A with three losses and 31 goals against.

Austria will be back in action in a must-win game against Germany on Friday. The winner of that game will qualify for the quarter-finals, while the losing team will finish fifth and play in the best-of-three relegation round against the fifth place team in Group B.

As for Canada, they will have Friday off before facing Sweden on New Year's Eve at 6:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. local.

MUST READ

35 minutes ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Toronto Maple Leafs on the Verge of a Significant Forward Trade Per Top NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman

1 hour ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Connor Bedard Rapidly Losing His Confidence: Comments at Practice Worrying Fans

3 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Johnny Gaudreau's Wife Meredith Has Emotional Reaction to Beautiful Fan Tribute to Her Late Husband

5 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Brad Marchand Traded by the Boston Bruins? Top NHL Insider Lists Him as a Possible Player to Move

6 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Florida Panthers' Aaron Ekblad Loses His Cool and Insults Fan

19 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente LeBron James Says Goodbye: He Has Had Enough of the Media and Has Now Made a Statement

20 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery NHL Forced to Release Statement After Controversy Over Department of Player Safety Rulings on Hits to the Head

20 hours ago  |  By Daniel Lucente Top Pittsburgh Penguins Prospect Tanner Howe Traded in Massive Five-Piece Deal

MORE STORIES