UFA, Russia -- Canada defeated host Russia 4-1 today to lock up a semifinal berth at the world junior hockey championship.
Canada won all four of its preliminary-round games to finish first in Pool B.
Dougie Hamilton, Mark Scheifele and Jonathan Drouin scored for Canada with captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins assisting on all three goals.
Jonathan Huberdeau added an empty-net goal.
Canadian goalie Malcolm Subban made 21 saves for his fourth win of the tournament.
Nikita Kucherov scored for Russia and goaltender Andrei Makarov of the Western Hockey League's Saskatoon Blades made 44 saves.
Canada will meet the winner of Wednesday's quarter-final between the United States and the Czech Republic.
Defending champion Sweden finished first in Pool A and awaits the winner of the quarter-final between Russia and Switzerland.
