Mitch Marner caps Canada comeback in olympic hockey OT win vs. Czechia
MILAN — Mitch Marner delivered the decisive blow in overtime as Canada rallied for a 4-3 victory over Czechia in a tense Olympic hockey quarterfinal. Down late after losing captain Sidney Crosby to injury, Canada leaned on late heroics from Nick Suzuki and a game-saving stop from Jordan Binnington before Marner finished the comeback just over a minute into extra time.
Late drama flips the script
With 7: 42 remaining, Czechia took the lead on a breakaway goal that capitalized on a chaotic sequence. Replays showed Czechia had six skaters on the ice during the play, but officials did not stop the sequence and Ondrej Palat converted on the odd-man rush off a Martin Necas pass. The goal sent a jolt through the arena and raised the stakes for Canada, which had already been wrestling with the loss of its captain to injury earlier in the game.
Canada responded with urgency. Nick Suzuki engineered the equalizer with 3: 27 left in regulation, redirecting a Devon Toews point shot that was skidding wide into the net past Lukas Dostal. Suzuki's quick decision-making and redirection forced the game to remain alive at 3-3 and set up the dramatic finish.
Binnington, Marner and the clutch finishes
Goalie Jordan Binnington made one of the game’s most consequential stops when he denied David Pastrnak on a breakaway with 70 seconds remaining in regulation. The save preserved the tie and forced overtime, with Binnington ultimately finishing with 21 saves in a performance that steadied Canada through a roller-coaster evening.
Just 1: 14 into overtime, Marner found the winner. The play showcased the offensive instincts that have made him one of the tournament’s most dangerous forwards — seizing a moment, finishing with composure and sparking wild celebration from a roster stacked with Stanley Cup champions and veteran leaders. Coach Jon Cooper praised Marner’s knack for delivering in the biggest moments, calling his contribution the kind of clutch play Canada has leaned on throughout the event.
Semifinal paths and other quarterfinal shocks
Canada’s win sets up a Friday semifinal against Finland, scheduled for Friday (ET). Finland punched its ticket with its own late comeback, rallying from two goals down to force overtime. Miro Heiskanen tied that game with 72 seconds left before Artturi Lehkonen scored in extra time to give Finland a 3-2 victory. Finland’s resilience after a slow start underlined the fine margins that have defined the knockout rounds.
Elsewhere, Slovakia secured a statement 6-2 victory over Germany to reach the semifinals and guarantee a place in the medal-round games. Dalibor Dvorsky led the way with a goal and an assist, while Pavol Regenda added two goals as part of a three-point outing. The result confirmed that several underdog narratives remain very much alive as the tournament moves into its closing stages.
The quarterfinal slate in Milan delivered unexpected twists and high drama, from goaltending heroics to late-itch finishes. For Canada, the victory ends an anxious night that began with an injury scare and ended with one of its most talented playmakers lifting the team through sudden death. The semifinal matchups now loom, with four teams left battling for a spot in the gold-medal game and every game likely to be decided by the narrowest of margins.
