Canada's Shea Weber (left) vies with Sweden's Loui Eriksson in Sochi on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Canada beat Sweden 3-0 to retain their Olympic men's ice hockey title, confirming their status as the sport's undisputed superpower.

Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Chris Kunitz each scored as ­Canada capped an unbeaten run through the tournament to claim their third gold medal in four Winter Games and their first outside North America in 62 years.

It also marked the first time since the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games that a team had marched through the competition without a loss.

Carey Price made 24 saves to ­record his second straight Olympic shutout.

Canada's campaign was anchored by an almost impenetrable defense that allowed only three goals over six games, including shutouts over the US in the semifinals and Sweden in the final.

The Swedish attack that had ­already been hit by injuries received another blow just before the opening face-off when centre Nicklas Backstrom was a shock late scratch. No reason was given for his absence.

Canada's big guns had been ­silent until the final but they opened up against the Swedes with Toews, Kunitz and Crosby, who scored the overtime winner in the final victory over the US four years ago, all collecting their first of the Sochi Games when it mattered most.

Since ending a 50-year gold medal drought at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Games, Canadian hockey has undergone a remarkable renaissance their Olympic reign only interrupted by a seventh-place finish in Turin in 2006, when Sweden took gold.

The ice hockey gold was the final medal to be decided in Sochi, coming just hours before the closing ceremonies.

It took Canada's Sochi gold tally to 10th, third in the final medal table ­behind Russia (13) and Norway (11).

Reuters - Global Times