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Today it’s Canada vs Czechia in the quarter-finals of the Olympic games, a rematch of Canada’s historic and devastating loss to Czechia in 1998 which went to a shoot-out.
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I’ll post live reaction on mainstream and social media as the contest goes along. Here are the highlights, including former NHL great Roberto Luongo’s brilliant trolling of the anti-Marner faction of Maple Leaf fans:
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TSN’s Craig Button
I don’t think anybody in the tournament is close to those teams (Canada and the USA). Nobody. I just don’t see it. I guess you can allow for some type of an upset. Once Canada checks that line of Pastrnak, Necas and Hertl, they got nothing else. They got nobody who can score. Their defence aren’t quick enough, fast enough. I feel it will be another four or five goal win for Canada vs Czechia. They’re just not good enough.
NHL network analyst Mike Kelly @MikeKellyNHL
The Canadians dominated the preliminary round game. Canada should win again.
One thing to watch with Czechia – if it can establish its forecheck, create turnovers in Canada’s zone, turn them into quick-strike chances. Has been a strength for them.
The Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Trudeau
The problem for Czechia isn’t just that Canada is better than them; it’s that the Czechs aren’t meeting their own standard
The Cult of Hockey’s David Staples @dstaples
In Canada’s first game against Czechia, Team Canada had 22 Grade A shots to nine for the Czechs. The subset of even more dangerous 5-alarm shots were 13 to four for Canada.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski
Martin Necas had a great comment after the Czechs won their qualification round game against Denmark: “We let them win the first one because we knew we were not going to win two in a row against Canada.”
Now that’s the spirit!
The Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis
Canada can’t get cocky. Czechia has had more opportunities to learn how to deal with adversity as a group.
Chris Pronger @chrispronger
Canada hasn’t been tested. USA finally found its edge. Sweden looks sleepy. And none of it guarantees a thing. Single-game elimination is chaos. Hot goalie. One bad bounce. Season over. This is where the Olympics flip.
CBC’s lay-by-play announcer Chris Cuthbert
Macklin Celebini has got his fifth, and it’s another set-up by Connor McDavid
CBC’s analyst Mike Johnson
One of the elements that is different when you play Canada is the speed of the close, whether it’s on the backcheck by Connor McDavid or whether it’s on the up-ice forecheck. And that’s Pastrnak that McDavid turns over with just his speed and his pressure. And Macklin Celebrini can’t stop scoring.
Former NHLer Mike Commodore @commie22
I know I am stating the obvious here…but sweet Jesus is McDavid an excellent player. It must be so much fun to play hockey when you’re the fastest, most agile, sick hands, unreal vision. With size.
MCDAVID TO CELEBRINI 🔥🇨🇦
Canada takes the early lead against Czechia, 1-0
WATCH: https://t.co/sK1B7suMWn pic.twitter.com/HRlgTqQukw
Sportsnet’s Alex Adams @alexadamsBTP_
Connor McDavid is not human.
The Athletic’s Vegas correspondent Jesse Granger @JesseGranger_
Jordan Binnington is a bit all over the place. I’ve said it all tournament, he still looks the same to me as he has in St Louis, where he’s struggled. It looks like he’s playing with aggressive depth to cover more net and fight his way out of the slump, but it leaves you vulnerable to rebounds. I still think if a team can generate offense vs Canada, there are goals to be had. Can anyone actually do that? Maybe not.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo @RussoHockey
Canada gets away with too many men and Czechs still tie the score. Mark Stone turnover.
NHL.com’s Dan Rosen @drosennhl
Turnover by Mark Stone as Canada was changing and the Czechs go down and score to make it 1-1 at 8:34 of the first. Lukas Sedlak scores on a nice passing play from Radko Gudas to Roman Cervenka to Sedlak.
Czechia ties it 1-1 👀
WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/sK1B7suMWn pic.twitter.com/BFGxU0WB3G
What Chaos podcaster DJ Bean @DJ_Bean
What if Canada-USA is the bronze medal game
The Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin @MLarkinHockey
Jon Cooper still hasn’t found the right line for MacKinnon. Do you consider reuniting the 4 Nations line of Crosby-MacKinnon-Reinhart? That was Canada’s best line in that tournament…
The Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco @ADiMarco25
Czechia is doing a really good job of protecting the slot. Dostal has been solid but has mainly had to deal with head on shots.
The AP’s Stephen Whyno @SWhyno
Czechia is playing Canada tough.
The Fourth Period’ sDavid Pagnotta @TheFourthPeriod
Pasta classico… Canada’s down for the first time in this tourney.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo @RussoHockey
2-1 Czechs. Pasta in and out, blinding blast of a one-timer off Hronek’s tee up with Celebrini in the box
David Pastrnak puts the Czechs up 2-1 on Canada in the first period
WATCH: https://t.co/sK1B7suMWn pic.twitter.com/kTpYM0rdJs
NHL.com’s Dan Rosen @drosennhl
Czechia takes a 2-1 lead at 14:49 of the first on an absolute laser from David Pastrnak from the left circle into the top right corner for a power-play goal.
NHL.com’s Jason Demers @jasondemers5
Well here is the test now…. Czechia came to f*cking play today. Two perfect plays off of mental errors by Canada. This game is going to be interesting because DOSTAL looks on it.
Oilers fan Finn 🇨🇦 @oilersjayscan
You’ve gotta be kidding me right now, what is this effort??!! Playing down to the opponent right now. And I really don’t understand why Binnington is in there. We’d better wake up fast, or we are in serious trouble of a humiliating exit
The Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin @MLarkinHockey
“Pull Binnington” chatter may begin but neither of the goals was on him at all. WHAT a shot by Pasta
The Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Di Marco @ADiMarco25
Czechia channeling their inner 1990s New Jersey Devils with how well they are protecting the slot.
Frankly Hockey’s Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon gets another spin to close out the first period for Canada 🇨🇦
The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn🇨🇦 @domluszczyszyn
well that wasn’t a fun period
Oilers Nation writer Sid 🇨🇦 @NHL_Sid
Wilson’s great on the forecheck, but I don’t think he’s been able to cycle the puck well at all on this line. I would just load it up with MacKinnon for the rest of this game.
CBC’s Ron MacLean
We have got ourselves a nervous nation.
Oilers fan Madi-🇨🇦🥇🇨🇦 @Madi39
Seeing a whole lot of turnovers by Canadian defenseman that are supposed to be better than Bouchard.
CBC’s Elliotte Friedman
That was the Czech’s best period of the tournament by a mile. They’ve been nowhere near that good. They’ve played their best at the right time.
Former NHLer Jordan Schmaltz @J_Swish24
Team Canada after 20 thoughts: 👇
1. Gotta stay out of the box. Thought Chris Rooney #5’s call on Fellabrini was a bit soft. I’d tell that to his chin too. Chris is a good dude. Wilson has no business high sticking buddy there. That’s a wreckless and unneeded penalty.
2. Canada gotta sniff a salt or shotgun a red bull to get the momentum back in their favor. Time to tilt the ice but that starts with the previous point above. Stay out of the box.
3. Number 97 is decent at hockey. He is absolutely flying.
4. Canadian D-Core needs to settle in. And clean up the exits.
CBC’s Mike Johnson
Lots of bodies for Czechia in the neutral zone. Not giving anything off the rush.
CBC’s play-by-play Chris Cuthbert.
Here’s McDavid flying in. In behind the net. In front. Makar off the post!
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
That did not look good for Crosby. Leg buckled underneath him.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo @RussoHockey
Oh boy, Sidney Crosby looks like he hurt his left knee on a hard hit by Gudas. He then got sandwiched again, took one stride and immediately struggled and went to the bench. He’s still sitting there.
NHL.com’s Dan Rosen @drosennhl
Crosby just left the bench and is going to Canada’s room with 13:55 remaining in the second period.
Betalynic’s writer Rachel Kryshak 🇨🇦 @RachelKryshak
Tom Wilson, you have ONE job. There better be 3 thunderous hits per shift.
The Hockey News @TheHockeyNews
Canada needs someone above the age of 19 to step up if Sidney Crosby can’t return
Oilers blogger Jackie Bondurant JB 🇨🇦 @JackieBee_16
Is Czechia going to get away with that interference / hacking and whacking all game? My god it’s so blatant. Must be Wes McAuley reffing.
Oilers prospect expert Bruce Curlock @bcurlock
I love this Czechia team. Just constantly attacking the Canadian D on transition. Clearly the weak spot of the Canadian group. Czechia is either gonna win 3-2 or lose 6-2.
Oilers fan Den Polland @oilersgm2
Canada can win this game with 1 line but they won’t win gold that way. They have to find a way to get the other lines going. Only 97/17 going here. Canada’s D needs to be better at transitioning the puck. This feels like I’m watching the Oilers.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon sticking together a line now.
Suzuki replaced Crosby on line with Marner and Stone
The Daily Faceoff’s Jonny Lazarus @JLazzy23
Dostal is dialed.
The Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin @MLarkinHockey
I get double shifting McDavid. But it also highlights how little Canada is getting from its depth right now. Suzuki, Horvat, Reinhart, Hagel, Jarvis etc — these are *elite* NHL players. Can’t be all on the shoulders of 17, 97 and 29 here to tie this game.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
Nice of the zebras to keep Canada in this one.
Frankly Hockey’s Frank Seravalli @frank_seravalli
Michal Kempny’s 🇨🇿 unnecessary penalty leads to Nathan MacKinnon’s 🇨🇦 game-tying goal with 7:44 left in the second period… “Soft” or not, a defenseman taking a penalty 185 feet from his own net and not impacting the puck is unnecessary.
HOCKEY M – 🇨🇦 Nathan Mackinnon marque le but de l’égalisation en quarts de finale, dans le match Canada contre la Tchéquie! C’est maintenant 2-2.#MilanoCortina2026 #rcsports #hockey #equipecanada #jeuxolympiques pic.twitter.com/7YrAXE1ocn
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun @PierreVLeBrun
Nathan MacKinnon rips a wrist shot top corner on the PP, Team Canada ties it 2-2.
Celebrini replaced the injured Crosby on that PP1.
Betalytics Rachel Kryshak 🇨🇦 @RachelKryshak
Czechia poked the 🐻 (MacKinnon) and traditionally, that has been a bad idea of opponents.
Former NHLer Jason Demers @jasondemers5
Macklin Celebrini passing to McDavid who passes to Mackinnon for a goal… is something millions of Canadians will recreate on ODR’s for years to come.
CBC game analyst Mike Johnson
You can feel the game bubbling right now on the ice. Czechia furious about that last penalty call to Kempney that resulted in the MacKinnon goal.
Empty Netters podcast @EmptyNettersPod
Doughty just dropped lumberrrrrrr on Pastrnak. The old fella’s still got it!
CBC’s Chris Cuthbert
Parayko right on. Rebound. Swung back. Off the post! What a chance and it glances off the post, from Suzuki on a sharp angle.
The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler @scottcwheeler
How does Suzuki miss that?
Betalytic’s Rachel Kryshak 🇨🇦 @RachelKryshak
Nick Suzuki is going to have nightmares about missing that open net.
ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski @wyshynski
2-2 heading into the third, where Canada will play most of the period on the power play based on the available evidence.
St. Louis hockey commentator Andy Strickland @andystrickland
Both teams need to stay out of the box but Czechia can’t win if they keep allowing Canada to get PP opportunities. Gudas is playing likes he’s possessed. Just knew a penalty was coming.
Oilers fan Denny Sawchuk 🇨🇦 @Denny_Sawchuk
Who knew that McDavid would go to the Olympics and face the same issue, no depth scoring
The Cult of Hockey’s David Staples
Canada has had 14 Grade A shots so far. McDavid has made major contributions to nine of them. The Czechs with 8 Grade A shots
Edmonton hockey analyst Mathew Panchyshyn @mathewjdp
Canada’s players not named McDavid, Celebrini, and Mackinnon need to significantly be better.
TSN’s Ryan Rishaug @TSNRyanRishaug
Czechia has saved their best for the most important time. Pouring it on in the Canadian zone after a Jarvis turnover.
Ondřej Palát puts Czechia up 3-2 on Canada
6 minutes remaining in the game
WATCH: https://t.co/oTy7mwM1Un pic.twitter.com/5vs9ByqAt6
CBC’s Mike Johnson
A shot block and they get beat back up the ice. Necas drops it back and Palat is right between hash marks. And Canada just gets beat up by Czechia. Classic counter punch.
Oilers fan Kennedy @kennedystrash
this is the bad place
Vancouver hockey commentator Jason Brough 🙁 @SadClubCommish
This can’t happen. We can’t allow it. Let’s go boys!
The Hockey News Ryan Henkel @RyanHenkel_
That Stone-Marner line has been rough all game and they might just cost Canada everything… Also Logan Thompson should be in net…So many passengers for Canada. You have a top line doing everything and then your fourth line generating good energy shifts. Everyone else is just skating around (or turning pucks over).
The Journal’s Jim Matheson @jimmathesonnhl
Oiler coaches always take heat when they put Leon with McDavid when behind but MacKinnon with 97 seems like same thing, no? You go nuclear.
Sportsnet’s Thomas Drance @ThomasDrance
Suzuki and Doughty struggled to sort out the 3-on-2 coverage on the goal that almost ended 🇨🇦’s Olympic tournament. Why? 🇨🇿 got away with having 6 players on the ice. Credit eagle eye Dimitri Filipovic for noticing, but this screen shot is from right after Harley’s shot got blocked.
The 3-2 goal from Czechia pic.twitter.com/b1vOslQboy
Sportsnet Vancouver’s Jason Brough 🙁 @SadClubCommish
That was so awesome from Suzuki. Kept the puck. Kept his feet moving. God that was good.
Betalytic’/s Rachel Kryshak 🇨🇦 @RachelKryshak
Absolutely BRILLIANT shift by Suzuki. 10/10. No notes. 1 man wrecking machine to tie the game for Canada.
The Athletic’s Michael Russo @RussoHockey
Tie game, 3:27 left in the third. Nick Suzuki redirects Devon Toews’ shot
HOCKEY M – 🇨🇦 Nick Suzuki marque le but de l’égalisation en quarts de finale, dans le match Canada contre la Tchéquie! C’est maintenant 3-3. pic.twitter.com/I7aYVedbeA
The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn🇨🇦 @domluszczyszyn
THANK YOU JESUS
The Hockey News @TheHockeyNews
Nick Suzuki might have just saved a country
Oilers fan Robbie Joseph @Robbiej34
Suzuki!!!!! Dude been buzzing all game!!
Sports Illutrated’s Ben Steiner @BenSteiner00
JORDAN. BINNINGTON.
Stops Martin Necas on the breakaway with 70 seconds left in the third.
Clutched up at the right time.
Former NHLer Alec Martinez @amartinez_27
Holy moly, the defensive stick lift in the slot in the remaining minute by Mark Stone 🇨🇦
Oilers fan Matt Henderson Arch @Archaeologuy
I’m officially having a cardiac event
Oilers fan Waddsy 🇨🇦 @waddsy19
I may not survive OT. Good grief.
CBC’s Cuthbert
Binnington again! Huge save their over Simek
Oilers fan Tier Two Oilers Fan @tier2fan
My husband is laughing at me because I shouted, “Get the puck away from the infidels!” 😄 🇨🇦🏒❤️🤍❤️🏒🇨🇦
MITCH MARNER 🚨
CANADA WINS CANADA WINS CANADA WINS 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/sKICnjLnA6
The AP’s Stephen Whyno @SWhyno
Marner. Canada survives
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman
I think I need a cigarette. That’s one of the greatest hockey games I’ve ever seen.
Sportsnet’s Kevin Bieksa
That wasn’t the greatest game ever, that was the most stressful game ever. Canada exhale. What a win. What a come-from-behind. And I don’t think anybody expected it to happen this way….I don’t smoke, Elliotte, but I’ll have one with you.
The Cult of Hockey’s David Staples
This game felt very familiar to Oilers fans, right?
In the third period, Canada has just one Grade A shots, Suzuki’s goal. Czechia had 5 Grade A shots in the third, scoring once, with one massive save by Binnington, then one more in OT.
Team Canada with 16 Grade A shots, seven 5-alarm shots. Czechia with 14 Grade A shots, 7 5-alarm shots
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