Canada survives Czechia in Olympic overtime thriller: Highlights

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MILAN — The Canadian men’s hockey team was just trying to survive.

Their beloved captain Sidney Crosby had left an Olympic quarterfinal game with a lower body injury. They were trailing by one goal halfway through the second period. Underdog Czechia was playing with house money and absolutely nothing to lose.

The sides traded blows. Nathan MacKinnon landed an equalizer that yielded a collective scream of a relief from Canadian fans. Czechia's Ondrej Palat said not so fast with his third period goal, drawing Czech fans to their feet, a taste of Olympic glory whetting their palette for more. Then, Nick Suzuki entered the chat. He tipped in a Devon Toews shot with less than 4 minutes remaining to force overtime and keep Canada alive.

The tension that had been building all contest inside Milano Santaguilia Ice Hockey Arena grew so thick, reaching palpable levels during the intermission between regulation and overtime.

But, finally, less than 2 minutes into extra time, Mitch Marner took out his sharpened knife and drove the blade right through all that intense energy with a goal that sent Canadian fans into a blind frenzy, the seams of the building exploding with elation, a release so thorough it could be felt in the rafters.

The Canadians had survived to play another day and another Olympic gold medal.

USA TODAY Sports was on the scene to capture all the action. Check out the highlights.

Canada's Mitch Marner scores in OT

Canada's Mitch Marner scored less than 2 minutes into overtime to give his team a 4-3 win.

Canada vs. Czechia goes to overtime

The sides were tied at 3-3 at the end of regulation.

Nick Suzuki scores to tie it up

With less than 4 minutes remaining, Canada tied it up at 3-3 after Nick Suzuki tipped in a Devon Toews shot.

What happened to Sidney Crosby?

Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby skated slowly toward the dressing room after a heavy check during the second period and will not return (lower body injury), per Hockey Canada.

The Pittsburgh Penguins star was checked by Czechia defenseman Radek Gudas during the second period along the boards, and on replay, it his right leg appeared to buckle. As he skated away, he was limping slightly. He eventually went to the dressing room, and did not return to the ice with his teammates to start the third period.

Czechia was leading 2-1 at the time of the injury, but Nathan MacKinnon later tied it 2-2.

Czechia scores to take lead vs. Canada

Czechia took 3-2 lead with 7:42 to play on end-to-end action. Martin Necas with a nice pass to Ondrej Palat. Tomas Hertl was credited with the block.

Canada vs. Czechia score tied after two periods

Macklin Celebrini  opened the scoring for Canada three minutes into the game, but Lukas Sedlak and David Pastrnak made it 2-1 for Czechia going into the second period.

Canada captain Sidney Crosby hobbled off the ice and down the tunnel after a hard hit by Radko Gudas, after which Crosby got crunched by a couple of Czechs with about 14 minutes left in the second period.

Michal Klempny took an interference penalty midway through the period and Nathan MacKinnon made Czechia pay for it with a power play goal.

Connor McDavid assisted on both goals, giving him 11 points in four games, matching the most points ever in a single Olympics featuring NHLers.

Canada ties it up

Nathan MacKinnon has evened the score with his third goal in four games and 7:44 left in the second period. MacKinnon's goal came off assists from Connor McDavid, his second of this game, and Macklin Celebrini.

Czechia 2, Canada 1 at end of first

Canada got on the board first with a goal by Macklin Celebrini off an assist from Connor McDavid. But Czechia took the surprising lead, scoring twice before the end of the period. Lukas Sedlak made the game-tying goal at the 8:34 mark and David Pastrnak gave Czechia the lead just before the end of the period.

Olympic men's hockey scores and schedule today

• Slovakia 6, Germany 2
• Canada 4, Czechia 3 (OT)
• 12:10 p.m. - Finland vs. Switzerland, quarterfinals on Peacock
• 3:10 p.m. - USA vs. Sweden, quarterfinals on NBC, Peacock

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