NORTH AMERICA WINS GAME, SWEDEN CLINCHES GROUP IN OT THRILLER
Nathan MacKinnonscored on a skillful deke at 4:11 of overtime as Team North America defeated Team Sweden 4-3 in a thrilling conclusion to the teams' Round Robin schedule. Sweden, who received a sterling 45-save effort from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, clinched Group B and advanced to the Semifinals with the one point it earned with the overtime loss. Team North America's playoff fate hinges on the result of Thursday's Group B finale between Team Finland and Team Russia. (For Thursday's clinching scenario, see below).

* MacKinnon's highlight-reel winner was the 87th shot on goal of the wide-open contest (Team North America 49, Team Sweden 38), the most ever in a World Cup of Hockey game. The previous high was 86, set by Canada-Sweden in 1996 and Czech Republic-Germany in 2004.

MUST SEE: Team North America defenseman Morgan Riellywas mic-d up for MacKinnon's game-winner.

* Lundqvist, who stopped 36 shots in blanking Finland 2-0 on Tuesday, made a total of 81 saves on back-to-back days after missing the first game of the tournament due to illness.

* After being denied by Lundqvist on a penalty-shot attempt in the opening minute of the game, Team North America forward Johnny Gaudreauconverted on a breakawayfor his second goal of the tournament. He later earned an assist on MacKinnon's overtime winner.

* The North America-Sweden result eliminated Team Finland from Semifinal contention.

DID YOU KNOW?
Team North America's opening two goals against Sweden, scored at 0:30 (Auston Matthews) and 1:35 (Vincent Trocheck) of the first period, were the fastest two goals to start a World Cup of Hockey game (by one team or both teams). Matthews' goal was 0:04 shy of fastest in World Cup history (0:26), a mark shared by Adam Deadmarsh(USA) against Russia on Sept. 2, 1996 and Pat LaFontaine (USA) against Russia on Sept. 8, 1996.

TEAM CANADA CAPTURES GROUP A IN FIRST-PLACE SHOWDOWN WITH TEAM EUROPE
Jonathan Toews tallied a pair of goals, including the game-winner, and an assist as Team Canada defeated Team Europe 4-1 and clinched first place in Group A. Canada finished Round Robin play with a 3-0-0 record -- the only undefeated club among the eight World Cup contestants -- and outscored the opposition 14-3. They will meet the second-place finisher in Group B, either Team North America or Team Russia, in the Semifinals.

* Toews leads all World Cup of Hockey goal-scorers (three) and his four points is tied for the tournament lead with teammates Sidney Crosby (2-2--4) and Matt Duchene (2-2--4), Team North America forward Johnny Gaudreau (2-2--4) and Team North America defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere (0-4--4).

* Team Canada outshot Team Europe 46-20 and has recorded 130 shots in its three Round Robin games, an average of 43.3 per game.

SNEAK PEEK AT THURSDAY'S ACTION
All Times Eastern
Team Finland @ Team Russia, 3 p.m., ESPN, SN, TVAS
Team USA @ Team Czech Republic, 8 p.m., ESPN2, SN, TVAS

THURSDAY'S CLINCHING SCENARIO
* Team Russia will clinch second place in Group B and a meeting with Team Canada in the Semifinals if it defeats Team Finland in any fashion. A loss to Finland in any fashion will eliminate Russia and send Team North America to the Semifinals against Canada as the second-place finisher in Group B.

Click here to view the standings through five days of the World Cup of Hockey 2016.

LOOSE PUCKS
Team Sweden defenseman Erik Karlsson recorded a pair of assists, figuring in the goals that lifted his team from a 3-1 deficit to a 3-3 tie . . . Team North America defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere recorded three assists, raising his tournament-leading total to four . . . Team Canada goaltender Corey Crawford made his first appearance in the tournament and stopped 19 of 20 shots for the win . . . The Calgary Flames announced that the club will don its classic red and yellow 'retro' uniform as its third jersey for a dozen dates in 2016-17 . . . The National Hockey League Coaches’ Association (NHLCA) announced the hiring of Michael Hirshfeld to the position of Executive Director, effective immediately. Hirshfeld succeeds George Kingston, who recently announced his retirement.

the information above was provided by the NHL PR department