Marner’s OT heroics: canada vs czechia hockey quarterfinal ends 4-3
Mitch Marner split defenders and produced a backhand winner in three-on-three overtime as Canada escaped a scare, beating Czechia 4-3 in the Olympic quarterfinal on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). The win keeps Canada on course for the medal round after a roller-coaster clash that included a late tying goal, a pivotal goaltender stop and the loss of team captain Sidney Crosby to injury.
Marner finishes it in overtime; Suzuki answers late
With the game tied at 3-3, Marner danced through two Czech defenders and slipped a backhand past Lukas Dostal to end the game in sudden death. The overtime strike capped a tense finish in which momentum swung repeatedly. Nick Suzuki ignited the comeback for Canada with a tipped point shot that found the net with just under three and a half minutes left in regulation, pulling Canada even at 3-3.
Earlier goals for Canada came from Macklin Celebrini, who opened the scoring just over three minutes into the game, and Nathan MacKinnon, who equalized on the power play in the second period after Canada had trailed for more than 15 minutes. Celebrini’s opener came on the heels of an aggressive start that saw Canada control much of the early play.
Czechia rallies, big saves and a captain lost to injury
Czechia answered quickly in the first period when Lukas Sedlak tied the game, and David Pastrnak put the Czechs ahead with a power-play marker later in the frame while Celebrini sat in the box for interference. Ondrej Palat then restored Czechia’s lead 3-2 in the third period, forcing Canada into desperate measures down the stretch.
Canada’s netminder, Jordan Binnington, made a game-changing stop late in the third when he denied Martin Necas on a breakaway just before the final minute, a save that kept Canada alive and set the stage for Suzuki’s equalizer. The urgency from Canada after that stop carried into overtime, where Marner found the decisive seam.
Adding drama to an already frenetic contest, Canadian captain Sidney Crosby left the bench about six minutes into the second period after an awkward hit from Czech defenseman Radko Gudas and was ruled out of the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury prior to the third period. His absence was felt on and off the ice as line deployments were adjusted and veterans were asked to shoulder extra minutes.
Standouts, milestones and what’s next
Celebrini continues to be a revelation for Canada at these Olympics. The teenage forward now has five goals in the tournament and seven points overall, matching a longtime Olympic benchmark for a teenager in tournaments featuring NHL players. Connor McDavid assisted on Canada’s first two goals, tying the all-time single-Olympics points mark in the NHL-era with 11 points — a milestone that speaks to his dominant tournament form despite this being his Olympic debut with NHL player participation since earlier in his career.
Canada’s path to the medal rounds remains intact, but the team will need clarity on Crosby’s condition and sustained goaltending to navigate the knockout stages. Czechia, despite the loss, showed resilience and the ability to capitalize on special teams opportunities and individual moments to push the tournament favorite to the limit.
With this win, Canada avoids what would have been a stunning exit and moves forward to the semifinal bracket. The game underscored how a single-elimination format magnifies every play: goaltending saves, timely scoring, and the health of star players will all be decisive as the tournament enters its final phase.
