It’s been a rough going in the Olympics for Tomas Hertl.
The good news is Hertl and Czechia are on to the quarterfinals of the Winter Games following a 3-2 win in Milan on Tuesday, setting up a rematch with top-seeded Canada on Wednesday at 7:30 a.m.
Bad news? Hertl hasn’t factored much in the winning.
The Vegas Golden Knights center went without a point for the fourth straight game and was called for two minor penalties that nearly brought Denmark back.
His first penalty at 15:21 of the second led to a power-play goal for Denmark. He went to the box for elbowing at 11:31 of the third, but the Danes couldn’t get the tying goal.
Czechia switched up its forward lines for the knockout stage. Hertl had centered the top line with leading scorers David Pastrnak and Martin Necas. Hertl was moved to the third line.
The shakeup worked well for the top wingers. Necas scored the game’s first goal, and Pastrnak had an assist. Hertl had two shots on goal.
The reward for Czechia is a rematch with the top team in the tournament. Canada shut out Czechia 5-0 on Thursday in the first Olympic game for both teams.
Hertl had three shots in that game was a surprising 3-of-12 in the faceoff circle. He was much better Tuesday going 9-of-14.
Either he, or his Canadian colleagues of Mark Stone, Shea Theodore and Mitch Marner will have bragging rights when they return to Las Vegas.
Andersson, Schmid don’t play in wins
Knights defenseman Rasmus Andersson was a healthy scratch in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Latvia on Tuesday to push the Swedes to the quarterfinals.
Andersson has appeared in two games but was a minus-2.
It’s unclear if this was a one-off, or a sign of things to come. A dominant win for Sweden with Andersson in the press box doesn’t bode well for his status going forward.
Sweden playing a back-to-back may be a reason to get Andersson back in. The Swedes will face Team USA in the quarterfinals at noon on Wednesday.
Goaltender Akira Schmid was the backup in Switzerland’s 3-0 win over host Italy. The Swiss will take on Finland at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
Switzerland starter Leonardo Genoni had a 20-save shutout, his second of the tournament.
This was an ideal game to give Schmid one more start before going with Genoni the rest of the way, but it appears that Schmid will finish his Olympics with one start — five goals allowed in a 5-1 loss to Canada on Friday.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
Winter Olympic Quarterfinals
Up next
Who: Czechia vs. Canada
When: 7:30 a.m. Wednesday
Where: Santagiulia Arena, Milan
TV: Peacock, USA
Line: Canada -1,695; total 6 ½
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Up next
Who: Switzerland vs. Finland
When: 9 a.m. Wednesday
Where: Fiera Milano Rho Arena, Milan
TV: Peacock
Line: Finland -248; total 5
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Up next
Who: Sweden vs. USA
When: Noon Wednesday
Where: Santagiulia Arena, Milan
TV: Peacock, NBC
Line: Off