Canada squeaks by Latvia in overtime at men's world junior hockey championship

Michael Hage scored on a power play 44 seconds into overtime as Canada survived a blown late lead to pick up a 2-1 victory over Latvia at the world junior hockey championship Saturday in Minneapolis.

Cole Reschny had the other goal for the Canadians. Jack Ivankovic made 26 saves. Gavin McKenna had two assists.

Rudolfs Berzkalns replied for Latvia. Nils Maurins stopped 36 shots.

Hage buried a one-timer on a 4-on-3 man advantage off a McKenna setup in the extra period to rescue his country before the Montreal Canadiens prospect was mobbed by teammates after Latvia's Roberts Naudins was whistled for delay of game late in the third.

Canada, which topped the Czech Republic 7-5 in Friday's opener after getting eliminated by the same opponent at the quarterfinal stage the last two tournaments, gently ticked another revenge box following a stunning shootout loss to Latvia — one of the biggest upsets in tournament history — exactly one year prior in Ottawa.

Canada's next game at the men's under-20 tournament is Monday against Denmark before wrapping up Group B play on New Year's Eve against Finland.

The lacklustre Canadians, which like last year were playing the second of a back-to-back against the rested Latvians in their curtain-raiser at the annual showcase, broke through in the second period after Martins Klaucans was assessed a five-minute major penalty and a game misconduct for an illegal check to the head on Zayne Parekh.

Reschny took a pass from McKenna on the ensuing power play and wheeled into the slot before the Calgary Flames prospect fired past Maurins at 2:22. Tij Iginla followed up with a shot off the post, but that's as close as Canada would come to doubling its lead with the man advantage against the determined