canada vs czechia hockey: Celebrini opens, Sedlak cancels in Olympic quarterfinal
Feb. 18, 10: 40 p. m. ET — Canada and Czechia played to a tense opening period in the men’s Olympic quarterfinal, with Macklin Celebrini striking early off a Connor McDavid setup before Lukas Sedlak converted for Czechia to level the game midway through the first. The match remains finely poised after a flurry of power-play chances and a period of heavy Czech pressure.
Early fireworks: Celebrini-McDavid connection, quick response from Czechia
Just over three minutes into the contest, Canada’s headline first-line chemistry produced the game’s first goal. Connor McDavid curled into the slot and fed a precise pass to Macklin Celebrini, who finished cleanly to give Canada the early lead. The goal underscored why that trio has dominated much of the tournament’s build-up: pace, vision and a scorer’s touch.
The momentum shifted quickly. Canada drew an early power play when Rutta was assessed a holding penalty, and a near-miss followed — McDavid slipped a low feed to Sidney Crosby, but the shot was saved. Later, Celebrini was tagged for interference, handing Czechia a man advantage and a clear chance to strike. The visitors nearly capitalized on the extra skater but failed to find the net on that sequence.
Czech pressure turns into a goal; special teams and line decisions matter
Czechia’s sustained pressure began to tell. After a Canada turnover in the neutral zone prompted a sharp cross-ice sequence, Roman Cervenka worked the puck into traffic and fed Lukas Sedlak, who deflected home the equalizer. The goal was the product of crisp passing and quick instincts in front of the net — exactly the kind of opportunistic play that can upset a heavily favored opponent.
Faceoff numbers and shot totals also favored the visitors through the early going, with Czechia outshooting Canada in the first period. Special teams loom large for both sides: Canada’s power play has been a tournament weapon, while the Czech penalty kill has had moments of vulnerability. The kill held on this occasion, but the threat remains.
Coaching choices, roster notes and what to watch next
Coach Jon Cooper has leaned on Canada’s top three lines from the outset, swapping Nick Suzuki for Brad Marchand in a bid to find the right balance and edge. Jordan Binnington is starting in goal for Canada, a choice that will be scrutinized if netminding becomes a decisive factor late in the match. On the Czech side, Martin Necas and David Pastrnak remain central to their attack, while Roman Cervenka’s set-up play and Sedlak’s presence in front have proved valuable.
Context heading into this knockout contest: Canada entered the Olympics as the tournament favorite after a dominant group stage, outscoring opponents by a wide margin and posting an unblemished record. Czechia’s path was bumpier — a loss in pool play forced them into a tougher route to the quarterfinal — but the lineup has enough NHL-caliber talent to be dangerous on any given night.
The game stands tied 1-1 after the opening period. Expect adjustments at both ends: Canada will try to reassert top-line control and find ways to generate cleaner chances off the rush, while Czechia will continue to pressure the neutral zone and look for second-chance opportunities in front of the net. With the knockout stakes in play, disciplined defense and timely special-teams execution will likely decide who advances in the medal chase.
Live coverage continues through the evening; the winner moves into the semifinal bracket and one step closer toward an Olympic medal.
