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Flyers' Giroux, Couturier help Canada win title; Babcock nears decision

Flyers centers Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier played major roles as Team Canada was perfect in Prague, going 10-0 and winning the IIHF world championship Sunday with a surprisingly easy 6-1 win over defending champion Russia.

Giroux, the Flyers' captain, had a goal and a breathtaking assist as Canada won its first IIHF title since 2007.

Team Canada outscored its opponents, 66-15, in the tournament.

Giroux made a sensational feed Sunday to set up a score by Dallas' Tyler Seguin, who led all players with nine tourney goals.

In the tournament, Giroux finished tied for 12th with 10 points, the same number accumulated by Flyers teammate Jake Voracek for the Czech Republic.

Besides Giroux, Flyers forwards Couturier (seven points in 10 games) and Brayden Schenn (one point in two games) were on Team Canada. Schenn was scratched in eight games.

Couturier, 22, played outstanding defense and was tied for second in the tourney with a plus-13 rating, and he was not on the ice for any even-strength goals against.

And, yes, it should be a confidence-booster for him when the Flyers open training camp in September. Couturier scored a career-best 15 goals last season, his fourth in the NHL.

Vancouver's Nick Bonino had a goal and an assist as Team USA won the bronze medal with a 3-0 victory over the hosts, the Czech Republic.

Babcock watch. The Flyers, it appears, only have a few more days to pursue Red Wings coach Mike Babcock, who was scheduled to return to Detroit on Sunday night after attending the world championships in Prague.

ESPN reported that Babcock will talk with San Jose this week. Babcock said he hopes to make his final decision by Wednesday. Buffalo and Toronto are among the many teams in the hunt.

Babcock may also decide to return to Detroit.

San Jose has an opening because Todd McClellan and the Sharks parted ways after the season. McLellan, who coached Team Canada to its gold medal in Prague, is reportedly the frontrunner to get the Edmonton job.

With Babcock a longshot to land with the Flyers, GM Ron Hextall could have Chicago assistant Kevin Dineen on the phone as soon as the Blackhawks are done playing in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Chicago lost the opener to Anaheim in the Western Conference finals.