MILAN (AP) — Nick Suzuki tied it on a deflection with 3:27 left, Mitch Marner scored in overtime and Canada avoided what would have been a stunning quarterfinal exit at the Olympics by rallying to beat Czechia 4-3 on Wednesday.
Canada fell behind with 7:42 remaining when Ondrej Palat scored on an odd-man rush off a pass from Martin Necas. The goal sent the Czech bench and fans into a wild celebration, but it was short-lived.
Suzuki just about did it all on the tying goal, sending the puck out to the point to Devon Toews and then redirecting the defenseman’s shot past Lukas Dostal. Jordan Binnington denied David Pastrnak on a breakaway with 70 seconds left to send the game past regulation.
Then Marner’s backhanded goal 1:22 into OT — assisted by Macklin Celebrini and Stars defenseman Thomas Harley — put Canada into the semifinals Friday, where it could face Finland, Switzerland or Sweden. The U.S. plays Sweden in the fourth and final quarterfinal on Wednesday night. Finland and Switzerland were ongoing when Czechia-Canada ended.
Sports Roundup
Canada even staying in the tournament has a major concern after losing Sidney Crosby to injury five minutes into the second period. Crosby’s right leg appeared to buckle bracing for contact from rugged Czechia defenseman Radko Gudas, and he left the ice after getting crunched seconds later against the boards by Gudas and Necas.
Sweden beats Latvia, advances to Olympic men’s hockey quarterfinal against Team USA
The Americans cruised through preliminary play and a match against Sweden could prove to be their first real test in Milan.
Stars forward Radek Faksa injured at Olympics, out for Czechia’s elimination game
Faksa was injured in Czechia’s game against Switzerland Sunday.
Find more Olympics coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.