US overcomes Germany and Canada blanks Slovakia at ice hockey worlds

HERNING, Denmark (AP) — The United States blew a three-goal first-period lead before beating Germany 6-3 at the ice hockey world championship on Saturday.

Conor Garland's power-play goal 4:50 into the third period proved to be the winner as the Americans moved to third in Group B. The top four advance to the quarterfinals.

“I liked our start and response in the third period,” U.S. coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "They’re (Germany) a good team. They’re well coached and play hard. We knew it would be a battle and I’m proud of our guys."

Tage Thompson struck 1:42 into the game on a power play for his fourth goal of the tournament. Frank Nazar doubled the advantage and Drew O’Connor made it 3-0 on a rebound with 5:43 left in the first.

But the U.S. is making a habit of squandering leads. It lost a four-goal advantage before beating Norway 6-5 in overtime Wednesday.

Germany scored three times in the second. Defenseman Erik Mic's goal 8:43 into the period sparked the rally. Jonas Muller scored from the slot with 5:17 remaining and Wojciech Stachowiak leveled less than a minute later on a power play.

After Garland's go-ahead goal, Logan Cooley made it 5-3 with 3:29 to go and Clayton Keller scored into an empty net with 1:53 left. Garland had three assists.

In Stockholm, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon struck twice each as Canada shut out Slovakia 7-0 to stay perfect after five games.

Canada is second in Group A, trailing unbeaten Sweden, which has played one more game. Both teams have already secured places in the quarterfinals.

Crosby added two assists, Macklin Celebrini had a goal and two assists, Brandon Montour scored and assisted, and Tyson Foerster also scored.

Goalie Jordan Binnington stopped 14 shots for his second shutout.

Canada took a two-goal advantage within 64 seconds. Montour scored 14:44 into the game to put the Canadians 1-0 ahead on a power play and Foerster doubled it from the right circle.

Crosby knocked in a backhand pass from Celebrini 3:25 in the second period. In reversed roles, Crosby fed Celebrini from behind the net to make it 4-0 with 1:52 left in the period. MacKinnon increased the lead 51 seconds later when his pass was deflected in.

Crosby added his second from close range in the third period and MacKinnon doubled his tally with a backhand 1:36 later for his sixth at the tournament. Crosby has scored four.

Crosby and MacKinnon have teamed up at the worlds after 10 years.

In Stockholm, Sweden shut out winless France 4-0 to stay perfect and lead Group A with six wins from six games. Isac Lundestrom and Raymond Lucas had a goal and an assist each and Samuel Ersson stopped 15 shots.

In Herning, the Czech Republic routed Kazakhstan 8-1 with captain Roman Cervenka contributing a hat trick. The Czechs top Group B and have qualified for the playoffs together with Switzerland.

Denmark beat Norway 6-3 for a third win in Group B and was tied with Germany at fourth.

Earlier, Finland defeated Latvia 2-1 to stay third in Group A. Latvia was fifth.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Canada's Sidney Crosby (87) past Slovakia's goalkeeper Adam Huska and Michal Beno during a Group A match between Canada and Slovakia at the hockey world championships, Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP)

Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, celebrates Macklin Celebrini after scoring a goal during a Group A match between Canada and Slovakia at the hockey world championships, Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP)

Sweden's Elias Lindholm scores 0-3 during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group A match between France and Sweden at Avicii Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, Saturday May 17, 2025. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)