MOSCOW — The Avalanche missed the NHL playoffs, but Matt Duchene became a world champion Sunday anyway.
Canada defeated previously unbeaten Finland 2-0 in the gold medal game at the world hockey championship.
Duchene and Connor McDavid scored the goals. McDavid tallied midway through the first period, cutting in from the right and flicking the puck over Finnish goaltender Mikko Koskinen's stick.
It was McDavid's first goal of the tournament, coming in his 10th appearance, but last year's No. 1 NHL draft pick had been playing a team-oriented game, racking up eight assists in that time.