George stays perfect with 2nd shutout as Canada bounces back with win over Germany

A win’s a win, but Sunday night’s result against Germany likely wasn’t what Canada envisioned after a shocking shootout loss to Latvia two days earlier.

Most fans expected, or were at least hoping for, a blowout win in response to the historic falter against Latvia on Friday, but Germany gave Canada all they could handle.

In the end it was another shutout performance from Carter George, his second in as many starts at the 2025 World Junior Championships, as Canada blanked the Germans 3-0 in Ottawa.

GAME OVER! Back on track. 🇨🇦🇩🇪

MATCH FINI! On renoue avec la victoire. 🇨🇦🇩🇪

📊 https://t.co/C0yJgI2DEY
📊 https://t.co/JnD0bmlH4a #WorldJuniors | #MondialJunior

Presented by/Une présentation de: @UpperDeckSports pic.twitter.com/UEjgtSafXr

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) December 30, 2024

Oliver Bonk got the scoring started for the good guys in this one, breaking the ice with a powerplay goal just shy of the midway mark of the opening frame.

After the second period came and went with no scoring, Canada found itself in a familiar spot heading into the final 20 minutes.

But unlike Latvia some 48 hours earlier, Germany was unable to find an equalizer before Kelowna Rockets’ blue liner Caden Price provided the all-important insurance goal.

CADEN PRICE GETS A LUCKY BOUNCE TO GO HIS WAY 🚨

Canada leads 2-0.#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/FHGJb5xuqx

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 30, 2024

It’s a goal that will likely sound a little different when he tells his grandkids about it down the line, as Price’s point shot hit the end boards, ricocheted back into the crease and bounced in off German goaltender Nico Pertuch’s skate.

When you’re “snake-bitten,” as Canadian coach Dave Cameron described after the game, sometimes you need a lucky bounce, and that’s what Price and his Canadian teammates received with two minutes left.

Mathieu Cataford sealed the deal with an empty netter in the final seconds to give Canada the 3-0 win on the back of a 25-save shutout from George.

Canada’s win, combined with a United States overtime loss to Finland on Sunday, sets up Sunday’s New Year’s Eve game between the two North American rivals nicely.

It means the winner of that game, which kicks off at 4:30 pm PST on Tuesday, will decide the winner and top seed of Group A heading into the knockout rounds.

New Year's Eve will also feature a similar game in Group B, as Sweden and Czechia will face off at 2 pm PST with the top spot in their group on the line as well.