canada hockey survives overtime scare as USA also squeaks into semifinals
Two pre-tournament favourites were pushed to the brink in dramatic quarter-final play at the Winter Olympics. The United States and Canada both advanced on Wednesday after overtime winners, but Canada suffered a major blow when captain Sidney Crosby left with a leg injury.
Tense finishes in two quarter-finals
The United States needed extra time to get past Sweden, prevailing 2-1 after Quinn Hughes scored the sudden-death winner. The Americans had fallen behind late in regulation when Mika Zibanejad tied the game with 1: 31 remaining, but Dylan Larkin’s deflection of Jack Hughes’s shot had given the US the only regulation goal. Quinn Hughes made the decisive play in overtime to send the Americans through.
Canada’s game was even more frantic. The favourite trailed twice against the Czech Republic, then rallied late to force extra time and escaped with a 4-3 victory when Mitch Marner put away a backhand 1: 22 into the 3-on-3 overtime. Nick Suzuki breathed life back into Canada with a deflection that tied the game with 3: 27 left in the third, after earlier contributions from Macklin Celebrini and Nathan MacKinnon helped keep Canada competitive. Czech scorers included Lukas Sedlák, David Pastrňák and Ondřej Palát, each producing key moments that had the contest swinging wildly between the two sides.
Crosby injured as Canada advances
Canada’s win came at a cost. Five minutes into the second period, Sidney Crosby appeared to buckle his right leg as he braced for contact and was subsequently forced from the game after a heavy collision that involved a Czech defender. Crosby did not return, leaving teammates and coaches to manage both the emotion of his absence and the tactical shuffle that followed.
Goaltender Jordan Binnington produced several crucial saves down the stretch, including a stop on Pastrňák on a breakaway with about 70 seconds left in regulation that kept the game alive for Canada. Coach Jon Cooper praised the depth and resolve of his squad, singling out Marner’s ability to deliver in big moments and noting that players called upon in rotation were trusted to step up when needed.
Semifinals loom and what's next (Friday night ET)
The victories set up compelling semi-final matchups for Friday night (ET). The US will meet Slovakia in one semi-final, while Canada is slated to face Finland in the other. Both games will present fresh tests: the Americans must build on an overtime escape and tighten late-game defense, while Canada will hope for clarity on Crosby’s status and for its top players to avoid further attrition.
For Canada, the tournament remains a delicate balance of expectations and concern. The roster carries the weight of the nation’s history in Olympic ice hockey, yet Wednesday’s results highlighted vulnerabilities even among the most star-studded teams. For the US, the narrow win over Sweden reinforces resilience but also raises questions about closing ability against disciplined European opponents.
With the semifinal schedule set for Friday night (ET), both teams will have limited time to regroup, review injuries and sharpen special teams. The late drama of the quarter-finals ensures the final weekend will be closely watched and fiercely contested as the medal rounds approach.
