MILAN – Mitch Marner’s overtime goal completed a dramatic comeback for Team Canada, securing a 4-3 victory over Czechia in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament on . The win, played at Santaguilia Arena in Milan, sends Canada to the semifinals, where they will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent on .
The game was a stark contrast to Canada’s dominant performance in the group stage, where they cruised to an undefeated record, including a 5-0 win over the same Czech team. This quarterfinal matchup proved to be a far more challenging test, pushing the heavily favored Canadians to the brink.
Canada’s scoring was led by Macklin Celebrini, Nathan MacKinnon, Nick Suzuki, and the game-winning goal from Marner. Celebrini opened the scoring early in the first period, capitalizing on a breakaway after a turnover forced by Connor McDavid. MacKinnon added a power-play goal in the second, while Suzuki’s late equalizer forced the game into overtime.
Jordan Binnington was crucial in net for Canada, making 20 saves throughout the game. However, the victory came at a potential cost, as captain Sidney Crosby left the game in the second period with a lower-body injury sustained from a hit by Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas. His status for the semifinals remains uncertain.
Czechia, the eighth seed in the tournament, proved to be a resilient opponent. David Pastrňák, Lukas Sedlak, and Ondřej Palát each found the back of the net for the Czechs, while Lukas Dostal delivered a strong performance in goal, stopping 36 of Canada’s 41 shots.
The first period saw a fast-paced start, with Celebrini’s early goal giving Canada the lead. However, Czechia responded quickly, tying the game with a goal from Sedlak. Pastrňák then capitalized on a power play, giving Czechia a 2-1 advantage – marking the first time Canada had trailed in the tournament and the first time they had been behind in an Olympics involving NHL players since the 2010 Vancouver Games.
The second period saw a renewed push from Canada, culminating in MacKinnon’s tying goal on the power play, assisted by McDavid. The period was also marked by Crosby’s injury, which forced a reshuffling of Canada’s forward lines.
The third period was a back-and-forth affair. Palát put Czechia ahead with less than eight minutes remaining, but Suzuki answered with a clutch goal just over three minutes later, sending the game to overtime. The goal came after a sustained offensive push from Canada.
Overtime didn’t last long. Marner, skating with speed and skill, found the back of the net just 1:22 into the extra frame, securing the victory for Canada. The goal was a testament to Canada’s depth, as it came from a player not on their top line.
“It’s the Olympics,” said Canada coach Jon Cooper after the game. “The best of the best. That’s why all the players wanted to come, to show who they were, to show themselves. And if you think you’re going to compete in this tournament, you’re very wrong. Yes, I like the fact that I won the first three matches and didn’t have to play a qualifying match. Of course! But that’s not why you’re going to keep winning. Just because you have the maple leaf on your jersey doesn’t mean ‘oh my god you’re going to finish first’. You have to work for it. And the guys here know it very well.”
Mitch Marner echoed that sentiment, stating, “Yeah, that’s probably my biggest goal, it’s hard not to say it. Obviously it’s an elimination match in one of the biggest tournaments of our lives. So yes it will be cool, after the tournament, to look back on that. But there is still work to be done.”
The win extends Canada’s Olympic medal hopes, but the injury to Crosby casts a shadow over the victory. The team will need to rely on its depth and resilience as they navigate the remainder of the tournament. The Czechs, despite the loss, demonstrated their ability to compete with the tournament’s top teams and will undoubtedly be a force to be reckoned with in future international competitions.
Canada’s semifinal opponent will be determined by the outcome of the remaining quarterfinal matchups. The team will look to build on this hard-fought victory and continue their pursuit of Olympic gold.
