Canada advances to gold-medal game with shutout victory over Czech Republic

Taylor Hall and Jason Spezza scored goals as Canada advanced to the gold-medal game at the World Hockey Championship with a 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Prague on Saturday.

Hall opened the scoring with the eventual game-winner off a pair of pretty passes from Sidney Crosby and Jordan Eberle midway through the first period.

(Courtesy: TSN)

Arizona Coyotes goaltender Mike Smith stopped all 23 shots he faced. Well, except for one that didn't count.

The host side scored to cut Canada's lead to 2-1 with under two minutes left in the second period, but the goal was immediately waved off because Czech forward Petr Koukal was deemed to be in the crease.

The play was not reviewable under IIHF rules.

Winnipeg Jets netminder Ondrej Pavelec was named player of the game for the Czech Republic after stopping 39-of-41 shots.

Canada set the tone early, outshooting the Czech Republic 19-10 in the opening period.

Spezza's 14th point increased his tournament lead, and Hall's goal gave him 12 points in nine games.

Canada plays the winner of the other semifinal between Russia and the United States in the gold-medal game on Sunday.