(Gothenburg) Macklin Celebrini could see the New Year’s fireworks aboard the bus en route to the Scandinavium for a duel against Germany on Sunday.

The best – and youngest – forward on the Canadian team exploded a few hours later to prevent his country from an embarrassing result at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

The 17-year-old scored twice and forced an opponent to take a penalty that led to Jordan Dumais’ game-winning goal in an unimpressive 6-3 win.

“It’s one of those games where you just have to keep going,” said Celebrini, who is tipped to be the first selection in the next National Hockey League (NHL) draft. We just had to get through it… It will never be perfect. »

Brayden Yager, with a goal and an assist, Canadian prospect Owen Beck and Easton Cowan, the latter in an empty net, completed the scoring.

Canada finished second in Group A, losing 2-0 to Sweden on Friday.

In his fourth start in a row, Mathis Rousseau collected the victory. Carson Rehkopf and Oliver Bonk each obtained two assists for the Canadian team.

Canada will meet the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Julian Lutz, Roman Kechter and Julius Sumpf scored for Germany, which finished last in Group A and will face Norway in a relegation match on Thursday. The defeat went to goalkeeper Matthias Bittner.

Canada entered the game with a 16-0-0 lifetime record against Germany at the World Juniors, including an 11-2 win last year in Halifax. On this New Year’s Eve, it was not so simple.

Tied 2-2 after 40 minutes of play, Canada started the third period well, scoring just 1:40 into the game. Rehkopf came towards the goalie, who thought it was a shot. He handed the puck to Beck and the latter scored his first goal of the tournament.

Dumais, who had received a double minor for high sticking that led to Germany’s tying goal exactly one minute earlier, then broke the tie at 3-3 at 8:32 of the third period.

For the 19-year-old Montrealer, it was his first goal of the tournament. He scored on the power play, courtesy of Celebrini.

“Really good players do that,” Canada head coach Alan Letang said of Celebrini rising to the occasion. We needed someone to step in at that time.

“He’s that type of player. »

Celebrini dealt Germany a big blow with his fourth goal of the competition with 3:58 left in regulation.

Cowan, who was the last scorer on the Canadian team without a point, completed the scoring with 2:44 remaining.

Canada forward Matthew Savoie was not in uniform, injured in the lower body.