canada vs czechia hockey: Marner and Suzuki lift Canada to 4-3 OT quarterfinal win
Feb. 18, 2026 — Mitch Marner delivered the knockout moment in three-on-three overtime, splitting two Czech defenders and tucking a backhand past Lukas Dostal to give Canada a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Czechia in the Olympic quarterfinals. The win keeps Canada on track for medal contention but came with fresh concerns after captain Sidney Crosby exited the game with a lower-body injury.
Late drama and an overtime hero
Czechia twice held the lead, but Canada kept finding answers. Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring just over three minutes in, then Lukas Sedlak and David Pastrnak put the Czechs ahead after Pastrnak converted on a power play while Celebrini was in the box for interference. That sequence handed Czechia a 2-1 advantage early in the game and marked the first time Canada trailed in the tournament before Pastrnak’s goal.
Canada recovered in the second period. Nathan MacKinnon scored on the power play to knot the game at 2-2, and the Canadians dominated the frame by outshooting Czechia 16-5. With time winding down in the third, Ondrej Palat’s goal gave Czechia a 3-2 edge, but Nick Suzuki answered with under three and a half minutes remaining, redirecting a point shot to force overtime and extend the game.
In the extra session, Marner split defenders and beat Dostal with a crafty backhand in a pressure-packed three-on-three situation, sealing a 4-3 finish and sending Canada through to the semifinals.
Big moments, new milestones and injury concerns
Celebrini continued his breakout Olympic run, adding to his tournament total and now sitting at five goals. He also picked up an assist to reach seven points — matching a longstanding mark set by a teenage player in earlier Olympic competition.
Connor McDavid factored in on Canada’s first two goals, tying the all-time single-Olympics point total of 11 set in past tournaments. The superstar is making an Olympic appearance with NHL participation for the first time since 2014 and has continued to be a driving creative force for Canada.
Another defining moment came late in the third when goaltender Jordan Binnington made a crucial breakaway stop on Martin Necas just ahead of the final minute, preserving the tie and keeping Canada alive before overtime. Binnington’s performance was a pivotal backbone for his team in a tight, high-stakes elimination game.
But the victory was tempered by a health scare: Sidney Crosby left the bench six minutes into the second period after an awkward hit by Radko Gudas and limped toward the dressing room. He was ruled out ahead of the third period with a lower-body injury, leaving Canada without its captain for the remainder of the contest. The team also dressed without Sam Bennett, Josh Morrissey and Darcy Kuemper, who were scratched from the lineup after taking a morning skate.
What this means going forward
The win keeps Canada’s gold-medal pursuit intact and underscores the depth and resilience of its roster. The team rebounded from being behind and leaned on secondary scorers when its captain was forced out, while veterans and rising stars combined to produce timely plays.
Czechia pushed the favorite to the brink and showed why one-game elimination hockey can be unpredictable: disciplined special teams play and opportunistic scoring kept the contest tight through 65 minutes. The Czechs will leave the tournament having tested the top seed and provided a reminder that momentum shifts quickly in knockouts.
Canada now advances to the semifinals with questions to answer about Crosby’s status but with a roster that has repeatedly rallied in high-pressure moments. The coming days will focus on recovery timelines, matchup planning and whether Canada's balanced attack can carry the team through the final rounds.
