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Exhale, Canada.

After coming within 3:27 of an early exit from Milan and what would have been an all-time disappointment for a team hailed by some as the greatest collection of talent ever, Canada survived and advanced with a 4-3 overtime victory over Czechia in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Canada struck first, taking an early lead on a Macklin Celebrini goal, but Czechia scored twice before the end of the opening period. Nathan MacKinnon evened the score in the second period as Canada clamped down heavily on Czechia’s offense, but Ondrej Palat would come through in a big moment again to give the Czechs the lead with less than eight minutes remaining in regulation.

Facing enormous pressure and missing their leader, with Sidney Crosby exiting due to a leg injury, Canada rose to the occasion before it was too late. Nick Suzuki tied the game off a deflection with 3:27 remaining, and overtime was over in an instant when Mitch Marner scored the game-winner to keep Canada’s medal hopes alive.

The win was undoubtedly a bit too close for comfort for Canada, but only two more wins separate Jon Cooper’s loaded squad from a gold medal. For Czechia, the effort will be remembered, but it won’t be enough for David Pastrnak or co. to play for a medal.

Canada will face the lowest remaining seed in the semifinals on Friday.

The Sporting News tracked live scores, updates and highlights from the Olympic men’s ice hockey matchup between Canada and Czechia. Check out all of the key moments you might have missed.

MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer’s guide | Day-by-day schedule

Canada vs. Czechia hockey score 123OTFCanada11114Czechia20103Canada vs. Czechia updates, highlights from 2026 Olympic men’s hockey quarterfinal

All times ET.

Final: Canada 4, Czechia 3

1:12 p.m. GOAL — Mitch Marner wins it for Canada! The Canadians narrowly avoid the upset against Czechia and will play for a medal. What a game.

MITCH MARNER CALLS GAME IN OT. 🇨🇦💥#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/8nCO7eg2fa

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026End of regulation: Canada 3, Czechia 3

1:08 p.m. — We are headed to overtime! Here are the overtime rules.

1:07 p.m. — Suzuki tries to wrap it around the post but can’t get it to go. Under a minute remaining.

1:06 p.m. — Binnington makes a huge save on a Necas breakaway opportunity! Necas put a major scare into Canada for a few moments.

1:05 p.m. — Dostal was knocked over for a few seconds after taking a big hit, but Czechia clears the puck in time to avoid a scare.

1:04 p.m. — Binnington with a save with 2:22 remaining in the period. Let’s see how aggressive each side gets as a potential overtime looms.

Canada 3, Czechia 3

1:01 p.m. GOAL — Nick Suzuki keeps Canada’s dreams alive! The Canadiens star evens the score on a deflection with 3:27 remaining. 

1:00 p.m. — Canada hasn’t been able to generate serious pressure on Czechia since Palat’s goal, but four minutes still remain.

12:55 p.m. — 6:09 to go as Canada tries to preserve its medal hopes.

Czechia 3, Canada 2

12:52 p.m. GOAL — Ondrej Palat gives Czechia the lead! Canada’s medal hopes are on the brink with 7:42 to go. The drama intensifies. 

12:47 p.m. — Czechia finally gets a sustained opportunity, but four shots miss the net, including one by Martin Necas. Canada can exhale after that sequence.

12:43 p.m. — Canada continues to do its best to limit Czechia’s offense, but the Canadians haven’t scored an even-strength goal since the early minutes of the game. Pressure is mounting on both teams with under 13 minutes remaining.

12:36 p.m. — Only one shot in the period between these two teams through more than three minutes. Let’s see who turns up the aggressiveness first.

12:29 p.m. — Sidney Crosby is out for the remainder of the game.

End of second period: Canada 2, Czechia 2

12:12 p.m. — Dostal makes a save on a shot by McDavid, and Czechia kills off the first 72 seconds of the power-play to head to the second intermission all even at two. Quite a finish ahead.

12:10 p.m. — Canada will head into a power-play with 72 seconds left in the period, looking to take the lead.

12:08 p.m. — Now Nick Suzuki misses the post on what was a pretty wide-open net.

12:05 p.m. — A shot from David Kampf hits off the post as Czechia misses a major opportunity. We have entered the final four minutes of the period.

Canada 2, Czechia 2

11L59 a.m. GOAL — Nathan MacKinnon ties the game! Canada’s attack overwhelms Dostal on the power-play, and we are all even at two,

11:57 a.m. — Canada will have a much-needed power-play after Micah Kempny is called for interference. Czechia has settled into this period, but this will be a major test.

11:48 a.m. — Dostal makes a couple of critical saves, including one on a shot by Travis Sanheim. The Ducks goaltender has been holding on for dear life in these last few minutes, but Czechia still leads.

11:46 a.m. — Crosby is headed back to the locker room.

11:44 a.m. — Sidney Crosby heads to the bench, favoring his leg. He was hit by Radko Gudas.

11:41 a.m. — Makar hits the post, missing a big opportunity to tie the game. Canada looks like the more aggressive team early in this period.

11:37 a.m. — The second period is underway as Canada tries to regain momentum.

End of first period: Czechia 2, Canada 1

11:19 a.m. — Czechia will head to the first intermission with a 2-1 lead.

11:16 a.m. — Canada kills off the penalty, and Devon Toews even managed a shot on goal while shorthanded. There is a minute left in the period.

11:15 a.m. — Czechia is headed back to the power-play after a high-sticking penalty goes against Canada.

11:13 a.m. — Shots are now 10-8 in favor of Czechia, but Binnington makes a save he absolutely needed as this first period reaches its final four minutes.

11:12 a.m. — This is a type of adversity Canada just hasn’t faced in these Olympics, or in quite some time on this stage.

First time since 2010 Canada has trailed in Olympics best-on-best

805:01 of game time

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) February 18, 2026Czechia 2, Canada 1

11:09 a.m. GOAL — Pastrnak puts Czechia in front! Seconds after Cervenka narrowly missed a great scoring opportunity, the Bruins star scores on the power play and gives the Czechs their second goal of the game. 

11:08 a.m. — Roman Cervenka’s shot hits off the post, just barely missing a chance to give Czechia a lead.

11:04 a.m. — Czechia is headed to a power-play after Celebrini is called for interference.

11:02 a.m. — Canada’s power-play produces four shots but no goals, and Czechia almost took advantage of its own opportunity after Shea Theodore broke his stick.

10:59 a.m. — Lukas Dostal denies Sidney Crosby’s shot attempt, Canada’s first in several minutes.

10:58 a.m. — It’ll be a Canada power-play near the midway point of the first period.

Canada 1, Czechia 1

10:55 a.m. GOAL — We’re all even! Lukas Sedlak sneaks one past Binnington, assisted by Radko Gudas and Roman Cervenka. After being shut out in their preliminary round meeting with Canada, Czechia is already looking much stronger.

10:50 a.m. — Czechia actually has one more shot on goal than Canada through six minutes, but the early difference is Celebrini.

10:47 a.m. — Czechia narrowly misses a rebound opportunity against Jordan Binnington.

Canada 1, Czechia 0

10:45 a.m. GOAL — That didn’t take long! Macklin Celebrini’s dominant Olympic run continues as he opens the scoring for Canada barely more than three minutes in. Connor McDavid gets his 10th point of the Olympics on that goal. 

10:40 a.m. — The puck has dropped on this quarterfinal game between Canada and Czechia!

10:10 a.m. — Czechia star David Pastrnak said yesterday Canada “might be the best team ever,” so there is no doubt the underdogs are taking this game seriously.

9:50 a.m. — Here’s how Canada will be lining up today:

Quarterfinal lineup. 🇨🇦

Notre formation pour ce quart de finale. 🇨🇦#MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/MryxiXQLGa

— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 18, 2026

MORE OLYMPIC HOCKEY NEWS:

How to watch Canada vs. CzechiaCanada vs. Czechia start timeDate: Wednesday, February 18Time: 10:40 a.m. ET

Canada’s quarterfinal matchup against Czechia will begin at 10:40 a.m. ET from Milan-Cortina. It is the second quarterfinal matchup on the docket on Wednesday. 

Canada vs. Czechia TV ChannelTV Channel: CBC (Canada), CNBC (United States)Live stream: CBC Gem, Peacock

CBC will have coverage of the Canada vs. Czechia quarterfinal game in Canada, while CNBC will have the game in the United States.

Additionally, the game can be live streamed on CBC Gem or Peacock.

Olympic men’s hockey playoff scheduleQuarterfinals 

Wednesday, February 18

Time (ET)MatchupTV/Live stream6:10 a.m.No. 3 Slovakia vs. No. 6 GermanyPeacock10:40 a.m.No. 1 Canada vs. No. 8 CzechiaUSA, Peacock12:10 p.m.No. 4 Finland vs. No. 5 SwitzerlandPeacock3:10 p.m.No. 2 USA vs. No. 7 SwedenNBC, PeacockSemifinals

Friday, February 20

Time (ET)MatchupTV/Live stream10:40 a.m.TBDPeacock1:10 p.m.TBDNBC, PeacockBronze Medal GameTime (ET)MatchupTV/Live stream2:40 p.m. TBDUSA, PeacockGold medal gameTime (ET)MatchupTV/Live stream8:10 a.m.TBDNBC, Peacock