After each team had a power play in overtime, the game advanced to a shootout, where Cam Atkinson scored twice to seal the deal. Canada captain Connor McDavid was unable to shoot because he was in the penalty box at the conclusion of the extra frame.
Goaltender Keith Kinkaid was named the U.S. player of the game after making 44 saves and five more in the shootout.
Canada's next matchup is against Korea on Sunday, while the United States faces Denmark on Friday.
The Dallas Stars officially named Jim Montgomery as their new head coach on Friday.
Montgomery spent the last five seasons behind the bench for the University of Denver. This is the 48-year-old's first NHL head coaching gig.
"We are extremely happy to announce Jim as the head coach of the Dallas Stars," general manager Jim Nill said. "He has achieved success at every level throughout his coaching career, establishing a unique culture around every team that he has led. He has created a standard of excellence by building trust with his players, while putting systems in place that allow his teams to compete for championships season after season."
Through his tenure with the Pioneers, Montgomery held a record of 125-57-26 and appeared in two Frozen Fours, winning the national championship in 2017. He also had a brief career as an NHL player, suiting up in 122 games for the Blues, Canadiens, Flyers, Sharks and Stars.
Ken Hitchcock, the winningest coach in Stars history, retired in April.
It's still unclear where Donato will slot in, as Brad Marchand and Jake DeBrusk have been labeled game-time decisions, though Cassidy believes they'll be playing.
Donato hasn't played since Game 2 of the opening-round series versus the Toronto Maple Leafs. But following a listless Game 3 loss to the Lightning in their second-round showdown, Cassidy felt the need to shake things up.
The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Ilya Samsonov to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Friday.
Samsonov was drafted 22nd overall by the Caps in 2015, and has spent the last three seasons with Magnitogorsk Metallurg in the KHL. He's eligible to join Washington next season, which could create an interesting scenario in goal for the Metropolitan Division champs, as current backup Philipp Grubauer is scheduled to become a restricted free agent at season's end.
Samsonov posted a .926 save percentage in 26 games this season. The 21-year-old has represented Russia twice at the world juniors, capturing a silver medal in 2016 and a bronze in 2017, as well as earning All-Star honors for the tournament.
The World Hockey Championship runs May 4-20 in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark. Stay up to date with all game action via our daily scoreboard (all times Eastern).
As each NHL season winds down, talented players commit to represent their countries at the IIHF World Championship. This year, a plethora of young, skilled forwards are set to make their mark on one of the biggest stages that hockey can provide.
Here are five young guns to keep an eye on once tournament action begins Friday in Denmark.
Kirill Kaprizov, F - Russia
Kaprizov, Russia's captain at the 2017 World Junior Championship, is already a proven performer on the international stage at only 21 years old. He also finished second in scoring for the Russian squad at PyeongChang 2018 with nine points in six contests, earning a gold medal in the process.
The Minnesota Wild selected the offensively gifted Kaprizov in the fifth round of the 2015 draft, but he's yet to play in the NHL, suiting up instead in the KHL over the last three seasons and registering 117 points in 179 games.
His contract with CSKA Moscow doesn't expire until 2020, so this might be the best chance to witness his tremendous talent and consistent production.
Tage Thompson, F - USA
The St. Louis Blues' first-round selection might have had a hard time adapting to the quickness of the NHL as a rookie, but Thompson has been an effective scorer in the AHL.
What Thompson may lack in foot speed, he makes up for with his soft hands and a wicked-fast release. The latter was on full display in his first NHL goal against Cam Talbot and the Edmonton Oilers:
Thompson is far from the flashiest player on our list, but he's still an exciting young prospect with great potential.
Pierre-Luc Dubois, F - Canada
Dubois has already started to make a name for himself in North American arenas, setting a Columbus Blue Jackets franchise record for goals by a rookie with 20 this season.
The physically gifted center has the versatility and skill set to also play the wing, and he can bring the body when needed.
Those strengths, combined with his superb offensive instincts and nose for the net, should help Dubois light up the worlds - especially if he gets the benefit of playing on a wing with an elite Canadian pivot such as Connor McDavid, Mathew Barzal, or Bo Horvat.
Elias Pettersson, F - Sweden
Potentially the most exciting player in the tournament who's yet to grace an NHL ice surface, Pettersson has been sensational in the Swedish Hockey League this season for the Vaxjo Lakers.
After being drafted fifth overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 2017, he led the SHL in scoring with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 44 games, broke the regular-season record for points by a player under 20 years old, and also set the league record for playoff points by a U20 player.
Elias Pettersson scores the SHL Championship winning goal in style. 👀
If he keeps scoring goals like the one above, the 2018 World Championship will be Pettersson's coming-out party.
Martin Necas, F - Czech Republic
Necas' dynamic playmaking skills and explosive offensive capability should be enough to entice hockey fans to tune in for the Czech Republic's games over the next week or so. If it's not enough to convince you, though, perhaps his performance from the most recent WJHC is.
Necas tied American forward Casey Mittelstadt for the tournament lead in scoring, registering three goals and seven assists in six games.
After the Carolina Hurricanes drafted him 12th overall last June, Necas cracked their opening-night roster out of training camp. He only played in one game, but went on to tally a respectable 17 points in 24 contests while on loan to HC Kometa Brno of the Czech Extraliga.
Slick hands and sneaky speed make Necas worth keeping an eye on at the 2018 World Championship.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) Pekka Rinne made 32 saves, P.K. Subban and Ryan Hartman scored and the Nashville Predators held off a late charge by the Winnipeg Jets to win 2-1 on Thursday night and even their second-round series through four games.
Patrik Laine scored off a faceoff in the final minute, but Nashville's Nick Bonino won two key faceoffs after that to end it.
Game 5 will be Saturday in Nashville, with Game 6 set for Winnipeg on Monday. Game 7, if necessary, would be in Nashville next Thursday.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped 27 shots, but Nashville snapped Winnipeg's 13-game home winning streak, which dated to March 2.
Rinne allowed five goals amid a series of defensive miscues in a 7-4 Game 3 defeat. He rebounded impressively behind a team that was much sharper in its own end.
The Jets found far less space in the neutral zone, but also saw a couple of golden opportunities bounce over their sticks.
The Predators led 1-0 after the first period and stretched their lead with 5:24 left in the second when Subban blasted a one-timer on Nashville's first power play.
Booed by the thunderous white-clad crowd every time he's touched the puck the last two games, Subban seemed to feed off the noise. It was Subban's third goal of the series after being held without one in the first round.
The Jets had a couple of great chances to tie it earlier in the period. Kyle Connor missed on a pass from Bryan Little in the slot on a power play, and Mark Scheifele let the puck skip over his stick on a 2-on-1 with Blake Wheeler moments before Subban silenced the crowd with his goal.
Laine scored on a 6-on-4 with 50.2 seconds left in the third - his third of the playoffs and first of the series - but the Predators held on from there to wrestle back home-ice advantage.
Nikolaj Ehlers was back on the Jets' top line alongside Scheifele and Wheeler after switching spots with Connor following Tuesday's disastrous opening 20 minutes when Winnipeg fell behind 3-0. Connor once again skated with Laine and Paul Stastny.
Nashville opened the scoring with 2:40 left in the first when Hartman scored his second of the playoffs off a scramble in front. An attempted clear by Winnipeg's Ben Chiarot in front instead went off defense partner Tyler Myers and directly to Hartman, who beat Hellebuyck up high.
The teams traded chances earlier in the period, with Hellebuyck stopping Roman Josi and Scott Hartnell on 2-on-1 breaks, while the butt end of Rinne's stick stopped Josh Morrisey's backhand chance along the ice at the other end.
Notes: The Jets inserted winger Joel Armia into the lineup after he missed the first three games of the series with an upper-body injury. Rookie forward Jack Roslovic was a healthy scratch. ... Hartnell stepped in for Kevin Fiala, who scored in double overtime for Nashville in Game 2. The Predators also dressed defenseman Yannick Weber in place of Alexei Emelin.
