2017-18 National Men's Team

QUICK STRIKES HELP CANADA TO SEMIFINALS AT SPENGLER CUP

JASON LA ROSE

DAVOS, Switzerland - Andrew Ebbett (Vernon, B.C./SC Bern, NLA) scored twice in 1:47 midway through the second period to turn a deficit into a lead, and Canada's National Men's Team booked a semifinal spot at the 2017 Spengler Cup with a 4-1 win over HC Davos on Thursday.

The Canadians will face the winner of the quarter-final between Dinamo Riga and Mountfield HK in the first semifinal on Saturday (9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT).

Kevin Poulin (Montreal, Que./KHL Medvescak Zagreb, EBEL) was rock-solid in his first start of the tournament, making 37 saves, while Zach Boychuk (Airdrie, Alta./HC Slovan Bratislava, KHL) had a goal and an assist after being added to the roster earlier in the day.

Penalty trouble doomed Canada in the first period; it spent almost half of the opening frame shorthanded, but only trailed 1-0 after Sam Lofquist hammered a one-timer past Poulin on the power play at 13:33.

The Canadians took over in the second, outshooting the tournament hosts 16-4 and scoring three times.

Ebbett tied the game at 8:36, breaking down the left wing and beating Davos goaltender Gilles Senn over the glove, and gave Canada the lead on the power play less than two minutes later, getting a quick shot past Senn to make it 2-1.

Boychuk pushed the lead to two at 18:34 on another man advantage, reaching behind his back to redirect in a Maxim Noreau (Montreal, Que./SC Bern, NLA) point shot and send Canada to the dressing room up by a pair.

Davos came out firing in the third period, outshooting the Canadians 15-8 thanks to a trio of power plays - including a 54-second 5-on-3 - but couldn't get another puck past Poulin.

Parenteau added one final goal for Canada with less than five minutes to go, tucking a wraparound past Senn on the backhand.

The Canadians finished with a 42-38 edge in shots on goal.