Marner and Suzuki come up clutch in canada vs czechia hockey quarterfinal — Canada survives 4-3 in OT
Mitch Marner split two defenders and finished a backhand in three-on-three overtime to lift Canada to a 4-3 quarterfinal win over Czechia on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). Nick Suzuki tied the game late in the third on a tipped point shot, setting the stage for an intense sudden-death period that saw Canada advance to the semifinals.
How the game unfolded
Canada opened the scoring early when Macklin Celebrini struck just over three minutes into the contest. The Czech response came before the 10-minute mark from Lukas Sedlak, and David Pastrnak restored Czechia’s lead with a power-play goal about five minutes later after Celebrini had gone to the box for interference. That Pastrnak marker put Czechia ahead 2-1 and marked the first time Canada had trailed in the tournament.
Canada pushed back in the second period. Nathan MacKinnon converted on the power play to tie the game at 2-2, and the home side dominated the middle frame by outshooting Czechia 16-5, reshaping momentum heading into the third. Ondrej Palat then gave Czechia a 3-2 lead in the third, but with just under three and a half minutes remaining Nick Suzuki’s tip from the point forced overtime at 3-3.
Three-on-three overtime produced the decisive sequence. Marner split two defenders and beat Lukas Dostal with a deft backhand to end the game and keep Canada’s gold-medal bid alive.
Key performances and turning points
Macklin Celebrini’s opener continued his hot tournament — he now has five goals and has been a consistent difference-maker. Connor McDavid assisted on Canada’s first two goals and finished the night tied for the all-time single-Olympics points mark in tournaments with NHL players at 11 points. That milestone underscores how integral he has been in an Olympic debut that has seen him add an international gold to a long list of career achievements.
Jordan Binnington delivered one of the game’s most important highlights late in regulation, denying Martin Necas on a breakaway just before the final minute to keep the score level and give Canada the chance to rally. On the Czech side, Pastrnak and Palat provided timely finishing that pushed the game into a tense finish.
Marner’s overtime goal was a reminder of how quickly three-on-three can shift — space opens, skill players find seams, and the game can end on a single creative play. His backhand finish was a clean, composed strike under pressure.
Injury, lineup notes and what comes next
Canadian captain Sidney Crosby was ruled out ahead of the third period with a lower-body injury after leaving the bench about six minutes into the second following an awkward hit from Radko Gudas. Crosby limped to the dressing room and did not return; the team will provide updates as they evaluate his condition ahead of the semifinal matchup.
Sam Bennett, Josh Morrissey and Darcy Kuemper were scratches for the quarterfinal. On the Czech side, Lukas Dostal started in goal and faced the pressure of a rematch against a team that had beaten them decisively in the preliminary round; his overtime concession ultimately ended Czechia’s run in this elimination game.
With the victory, Canada moves on to the semifinals and keeps its championship hopes alive. The team will have limited time to regroup and address the injury to its captain, but the late equalizer from Suzuki and Marner’s sudden-death finish offered a dramatic reminder of the depth and resilience on this roster.
The next matchup for Canada will require another full-line effort, and the semifinal draws the country one step closer to the podium they have targeted throughout the tournament.
