Ryan Nugent-Hopkins helped Team Canada stay in first place in Group Helsinki at the International Ice Hockey Federation world championships.
The 19-year-old Burnaby Winter Club product had an assist on Canada's go-ahead goal in the second period by Jeff Skinner in a 5-3 come-from-behind win over host Finland on Friday. The Edmonton Oilers rookie centre also tallied his third goal of the world tournament in an 8-0 romp on Saturday over Kazakhstan, which with the loss will be relegated to the lower level Group A world championship next year.
Canada needs a win over Belarus in its final group match on Tuesday to lock up top seeding in the Helsinki pool.
The United States remained in second place, three points behind Canada, in the Helsinki group after eking out a 3-2 win in overtime against Kazakhstan on Friday.
Finland and Slovakia remain a point behind the Americans in third place.
Team Russia is unbeaten in six games in its group played in Sweden. The Swedes are a game behind with a 5-1-0 record.
The quarter-finals will follow the round robin on Thursday.
The semifinals will take place on Saturday with gold- and bronze-medal finals played on Saturday, May 20.
