Chaos in Fribourg: Canada Rallies Past Norway in Overtime as Scheifele Shines

Mark Scheifele’s heroic hat trick saves Canada 

Norway led 2-0 early, but Canada fought back for a dramatic 6-5 OT victory at the IIHF Worlds. Scheifele’s OT winner completes the hat trick.

In a high-scoring affair at the 2026 IIHF Worlds, Canada rallied from an early deficit to defeat Norway 6-5 in overtime...

In what will surely be remembered as one of the most entertaining games of the 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship so far, Canada narrowly escaped with a 6-5 overtime victory over Norway on May 21, 2026, at the BCF Arena in Fribourg, Switzerland. Mark Scheifele stole the show with a hat trick, including the game-winner just 29 seconds into extra time, as Canada improved to 4-0 in Group B while Norway showed they are no pushovers in this tournament.

A Game That Had Everything

This matchup was billed as a potential mismatch on paper - Canada, stacked with NHL talent including Sidney Crosby, Macklin Celebrini, and Scheifele, facing a Norway side often viewed as an underdog. But hockey has a way of humbling expectations, and this contest delivered chaos, lead changes, special teams drama, and goaltending adventures from the opening faceoff.

First Period: Norway Strikes First

Norway jumped out to a shocking 2-0 lead. Eskild Bakke Olsen opened the scoring at 5:18 with a smart slot shot past Cam Talbot. Johannes Johannesen then doubled the advantage at 11:37 with a hard, knuckling point shot that beat Talbot’s glove.

Canada responded through Scheifele. He scored his first at 13:30 while falling down, and tied the game at 17:50 with a sharp shot set up by Parker Wotherspoon and Gabriel Vilardi. The period ended 2-2, with Canada drawing several penalties but failing to convert on the power play.

Second Period: Back-and-Forth Intensity

Norway regained the lead early in the second on a power play when Noah Steen tipped home Petter Vesterheim’s pass at 3:34. Canada equalized again midway through the frame on a power-play goal by Vilardi (assisted by Scheifele and Evan Bouchard) at 11:57.

A golden chance for Norway went begging late in the period when Mikkel Eriksen, with Talbot pulled out of position, fanned on an empty-net opportunity. The teams headed into the third tied 3-3 after another frantic 20 minutes.

Third Period: Shorthanded Magic and Late Drama

Canada grabbed its first lead of the game just 31 seconds into the third. On a shorthanded rush, Dylan Cozens pounced on a turnover by Johannesen, deked Tobias Normann, and slid the puck home.

Norway refused to fold. They stormed back with two quick goals on long shots that exposed Talbot’s difficulties with high pucks. Christian Kaasastul tied it at 8:09, and Tinus Luc Koblar put Norway ahead 5-4 at 9:57. This was the first time Norway had ever scored five goals against Canada in a World Championship game.

With time ticking down and the Canadian net empty, Macklin Celebrini fired a shot from the blue line that Ryan O’Reilly beautifully tipped in at 18:21. Regulation ended 5-5, setting up the extra session.07a215

Overtime: Scheifele Delivers the Hat Trick

It took Canada just 29 seconds. Celebrini carried the puck across the line, fed Bouchard, who found Scheifele on the back door for a tap-in. Hat trick complete, game over - Canada 6, Norway 5. Bouchard finished with three assists, and Celebrini added two.9ec8c4

Key Stats and Performances

Final Score: Canada 6 – Norway 5 (OT)

Shots: Canada 42 – Norway 19

Power Plays: Canada 1/5, Norway 1/4

Canada Leaders: Scheifele (3G, 1A), Bouchard (3A), Vilardi (1G, 1A)

Norway Standouts: Noah Steen (2G), Johannes Johannesen (1G, 2A), Tobias Normann (36 saves on 42 shots)

Cam Talbot stopped 14 of 19 shots; he faced significant pressure but made key stops when needed. Normann was outstanding for the underdogs.

Canada remains undefeated and atop Group B with 12 points. The win highlighted their resilience and depth but also exposed areas for improvement - defensive lapses, high-danger chances allowed, and occasional goaltending vulnerability. Head coach will likely emphasize tightening up defensively ahead of tougher tests.

For Norway, this was a moral victory and a massive point. They played with speed, physicality, and structure, proving their recent improvements in generating offense. Captain Andreas Martinsen was proud of the effort, noting it was “huge” to push Canada this hard.

This wasn’t just another preliminary round win. It was a statement that even powerhouse Canada must earn every victory at the Worlds. 

Scheifele seals it in OT with a hat-trick! 🇨🇦🔥 #MensWorlds #IIHF @hockeycanada

🔗 Game recap: https://t.co/v7wIXvH7Nh pic.twitter.com/rFN7OvwyCf

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 21, 2026

The thrilling nature of the game - end-to-end action, momentum swings, and a dramatic finish - embodies everything fans love about international hockey. Scheifele’s performance, pairing veteran savvy with clutch finishing, and the chemistry shown between young stars like Celebrini and veterans like O’Reilly and Crosby, bodes well for Canada’s medal aspirations.39ff93

Norway showed the tournament is wide open and that underdogs can make life miserable for favorites. Fans in Fribourg were treated to a classic.

As the 2026 IIHF World Championship rolls on, expect Canada to use this as a learning experience while Norway builds confidence. One thing is certain: if every game delivers this level of excitement, it’s going to be an unforgettable tournament.