Denmark secured its first-ever World Championship semi-final berth with a stunning 2-1 victory over Canada in a dramatic match held in Herning. Nikolaj Ehlers and Nick Olesen scored late goals to propel the Danes to a historic win, sending them to Stockholm for the semi-finals on Saturday.
The game initially appeared to be heading towards a narrow defeat for Denmark after Travis Sanheim put Canada ahead with a goal fifteen minutes before the end. However, Denmark pulled their goalie in the final minutes, a gamble that paid off when Nikolaj Ehlers scored through heavy traffic, igniting the crowd.
The excitement intensified when Nick Olesen scored the winning goal with just 49 seconds remaining after being set up by Nicklas Jensen. This victory marks the greatest achievement in Danish national ice hockey team history.
Early in the match, Canada dominated, overwhelming the Danish team with their speed and skill. The Canadian team outshot Denmark 18-4 in the first period, highlighting the pressure on Danish goalkeeper Frederik Dichow.
Despite the initial pressure, Denmark created counter-attacking opportunities, particularly through the fourth line of Morten Poulsen, Christian Wejse, and Mathias Bau. The Danish team managed to keep the game close, earning a standing ovation as they headed to the locker room.
The second period was marked by controversy, with the Danish team feeling aggrieved by several refereeing decisions. A disallowed goal by Morten Poulsen further incensed the crowd, who felt the call was unjust.
Penalties against Nicholas B. Jensen and Phillip Bruggisser put the Danish penalty kill unit to the test, but they proved resilient, preventing Canada from converting their power play opportunities.
Despite a strong start to the third period by Denmark, Travis Sanheim scored for Canada, seemingly securing their victory. However, Denmark’s late surge, with goals from Ehlers and Olesen, turned the game around and eliminated Canada from the tournament.
Denmark will now face Switzerland in the semi-finals on Saturday, while Sweden will play the USA in the other semi-final match.