Dougie Hamilton, Mark Scheifele, Jonathan Drouin and Jonathan Huberdeau each scored and team captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins had three assists. Nugent-Hopkins hiked his point total to a tournament best 11 (3-8-11). Nikita Kucherov scored for Russia.

The Canadians took advantage of a Valeri Nichushkin five minute boarding major. With the game scoreless, Hamilton rifled home a Nugent-Hopkins feed from the point to give Canada a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Still on the power play, Scheifele got to his own rebound, steering it past Russian netminder Andrei Makarov.

Russia crept within one when Kucherov cashed in a Scheifele turnover. He beat Canadian goalie Malcolm Subban. The host team had a chance to tie it with ’13 Draft eligible Nathan MacKinnon in the box. However, strong penalty killing from forward Boone Jenner helped his team kill it off. Jenner returned after serving a three-game suspension for a late hit in an exhibition game versus Sweden that ended Jesper Pettersson’s tournament. He was used by coach Steve Spott in a checking role and flourished. Jenner was superb on the cycle.

One of Jenner’s linemates Drouin beat Makarov to restore a two-goal lead. On the play, the speedy ’13 Draft prospect got to a loose puck behind the net and snuck a backhand stuff-in past the sprawling Russian backstop, who was caught out of position. Nugent-Hopkins picked up the lone assist. His third of the night. The goal proved pivotal, allowing Canada to play solid defensively in the third period. Once again, their D was the difference. They kept the skilled Russians outside- outshooting their Western rival 47-22. Edmonton 2012 top pick Nail Yakupov was held without a point and Buffalo’s Mikhail Grigorenko also went scoreless.

Makarov kept Russia in the game finishing with 44 saves. He was pulled late for an extra attacker. They came close to cutting it to one but Yakupov’s rebound that caromed to a teammate, who hit the side of the net. Moments later, Huberdeau outmuscled Grigorenko and scored into an empty net to seal the victory. He finished with two points (1-1-2). With 16 seconds left, Russian forward Vladimir Tkachyov was pulled down from behind and rewarded a penalty shot. An aggressive Subban denied him.

In the medal round, Russia will take on Switzerland for a spot in the semifinals. Sweden awaits.