The two sides were evenly matched inside the regulation time with two goals apiece, meaning overtime was needed to separate the teams.

Eventually, it was Alexis Lafreniere who scored the winner for the Canadians, ensuring they topped the group.

Canada are now due to face the Czech Republic in their quarter-final.

The Czechs lost 4-2 to Group B winners Finland in their final group stage match of the tournament at the Traktor Ice Arena in Chelyabinsk.

Finland are scheduled to come up against Belarus, thrashed 8-0 by defending champions the United States, in their quarter-final.

As was the case in Group A, the final Group B match between hosts Russia and Slovakia also went beyond regulation time.

Slovakia made an excellent start to the match and were 4-1 up within a few minutes of the start of the second period.

Russia, however, mounted a superb comeback to tie the match 5-5 at the end of regulation time.

Overtime could not separate the teams and it was the hosts, backed by a crowd of 7,367, who eventually clinched victory in the shootout.

The host nation now face a challenging encounter against the US in the quarter-finals, while Slovakia will come up against Sweden.

There are no matches tomorrow as the players are on a rest day with the quarter-finals set to get the tournament back underway on Thursday (April 26).