Slovakia defeated Canada in a surprise result at the world hockey championships Thursday to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2004.
For Canada, the result continues a run of three quarterfinal defeats at the last three world championships after losses to Russia in 2010 and 2011.
The Canadians came back from 2-0 down to lead 3-2 for most of the third period, only for Michal Handzus to score the winner for Slovakia with two and a half minutes remaining on a power play after Ryan Gertzlaf received a major penalty for kneeing.
Florida Panthers winger Tomas Kopecky took the credit for Slovakia’s first goal when Branko Radivojevic’s wrist shot ricocheted into the net off his legs, before Miroslav Satan added the second after capitalizing on a Canadian defensive lapse.
Canada pulled one back through Evander Kane, who finished from close range after a Getzlaf shot to leave the score at 2-1 at the end of the first period.
Canada equalized in the second period when Jeff Skinner scored from the rebound after Jordan Eberle’s breakaway effort.
After two and a half minutes of the third period, Canada took the lead for the first time with an Alexandre Burrows goal, but the Slovaks responded 11 minutes later to tie the game again when Milan Bartovic scored off his own rebound on a breakaway.
Handzus added the winner, and the Slovaks’ man advantage meant they had little difficulty holding on for the win in the dying minutes of the match.
Russia plays Norway later Thursday, before the United States face Finland and Sweden takes on the Czech Republic.
Slovakia will play either the Swedes or the Czechs in the semifinal.
