We sure did. Team Canada is facing Czechia in the quarterfinals, just six days after the lidlifter in these Olympics to begin group play, a game Canada controlled in a 5-0 shutout win.

The Czechs have dangerous players on their team. The issue is, so far, they aren’t playing to their own top level.

At one point in the second period, France led Czechia in group play. Switzerland then earned a 4-3 overtime victory to secure second in the pool.

Even Tuesday’s knockout round elimination game against Denmark seemed like a strain. In the end, the top eight countries remain, and the eighth-seeded Czechs have the tools, but can they put the pieces together?

They need some more of Martin Necas’ good humour and confidence, as he told reporters about facing Canada.

“We let them win the first one because we knew we were not going to win two in a row against Canada,” said Necas.

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Czechia losing to Canada in the preliminary round was all part of the plan, according to Martin Necas 😅 (h/t @drosennhl)

8:34 PM · Feb 17, 2026

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Leaping the Hertls

How far Necas’ tongue was buried in his cheek when he said that is unknown.

However, his offensive game is a big reason why Czechia beat Denmark 3-2, scoring a goal and an assist. His tournament total sits at seven points, a three-point lead on teammate David Pastrnak, and two back of McDavid’s overall lead.

Penalty trouble and the inability to kill those penalties didn’t come back to bite them this time. Denmark scored once on the man-advantage, but overall in this tournament, CZE’s penalty kill is 63.7 per cent.

However, they did kill both penalties in the third period, a frame in which Denmark outshot Czechia 12-5. In the end, all the goals came in the second period.

Grizzled vet and captain Roman Cervanka’s second goal of the tournament held up for the game-winner, as Lukas Dostal’s 22 saves were enough.

“It was huge. For us, this wasn’t an easy game,” said Tomas Hertl. “When we got the lead, it was kind of tough when we give up that goal. But then Dusty [Dostal] made some huge saves for us and we defended.”

Likely the third-best forward for Czechia, Hertl has been going through it this tournament. He remains pointless at the Winter Games, only joining boxscores by taking penalties. Pastrnak hasn’t been the offensive dynamo they’ve hoped for, either.

The line of Necas, David Kampf, and Filip Chlapik has proven to be the most consistent and reliable at the Olympics.

In game one, the Czechs couldn’t solve Jordan Binnington, who made 28 saves in a shutout. No one yet has been able to slow down the onslaught of Canada’s offensive weapons.

“They might be the best team ever, so maybe we have to put the respect aside a little bit,” said Pastrnak.

“We have nothing to lose, so we are going to go out there and leave it all out there. Like I said, as a team, we haven’t played our best yet, so hopefully we saved it for tomorrow.”

Who’s starting?

Lukas Dostal started Tuesday, which means the Czech’s are either thrusting the Anaheim Ducks goaltender into a back-to-back, turning to Dan Vladar again, or going full wildcard and starting Karel Vejmelka, who’s yet to play.

I’d expect they are riding and dying with Dostal in this matchup. Vladar’s play didn’t inspire a ton of confidence against France.

In fact, Dostal’s 31 saves against Canada might not be flattering enough to how well he played, considering the variety of chances Canada was creating.

Connor McDavid had three assists, and five different Canadians (Celebrini, MacKinnon, Stone, Horvat, and Suzuki) lit the lamp.

The only Czech defenceman to have a plus-minus of zero in the game was Radko Gudas.

“For us, it is a great challenge,” said Gudas. “It’s going to be fun. If we want to get the medal, we have to beat the best teams, and they are one of those teams.

“If anybody can’t get motivated for the game tomorrow, there is something seriously wrong with them, and I don’t think they should be playing hockey.”

Notes:

The Czechs suffered big injury news as Radek Faksa will not play due to injury. He has two assists in the tournament, but leaves a thin center group that much thinner. They’ve missed the presence of Pavel Zacha in the middle.
Czechia has reached the quarterfinals in each of the six Olympics involving NHL teams.
Similar to how McDavid has already surpassed Jonathan Toews’ single tournament point record for NHLers, Necas is knocking on the door himself. He is tied with Jaromir Jagr’s mark of seven points in 2006 for the second most all-time for the Czechs.
The record holder? Martin Straka with eight points in 2006.
Expect all the minutes for Filip Hronek. He led all players in ice-time vs Denmark with 27:53.
Canada’s powerplay: 4/9 = 44.4%. Canada’s penalty kill: 6/7 = 85.7%
Czechia’s powerplay: 2/10 = 20%. Czechia’s penalty kill: 7/11 = 63.6%
Since Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1993, Canada has played Czechia seven times at the Olympics, going 4-2-1.
The first meeting was in the quarterfinals of 1994, as Paul Kariya scored the overtime winner for Canada to advance.

Michael Menzies is an Oilersnation columnist and has been the play-by-play voice of the Bonnyville Pontiacs in the AJHL since 2019. With seven years news experience as the Editor-at-Large of Lakeland Connect in Bonnyville, he also collects vinyl, books, and stomach issues.

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