Dylan Cozens scored his second goal of the game shorthanded during overtime and Canada defeated the Czech Republic 4-3 on Tuesday at the Men’s World Hockey Championship.
Cozens took advantage of a turnover in Canadian territory before heading towards the Czech net.
His pass, intended for Colton Parayko, was intercepted, but he recovered the disc and pushed it backhanded behind Czech goalie Lukas Dostal, who was lying on the ice.
“This victory gives us a lot of confidence heading into the medal round. All our games have been close, and we have to play with confidence in these circumstances. Nobody gives up on this team. Even when the Czech Republic tied the game, we didn’t give up. We were shorthanded, but we hung in there and found a way to win,” summed up Cozens.
The latter now has eight goals in seven matches with Canada, who completed the preliminary phase at the top of Group A with 19 ranking points. He scored five victories in regulation time, and two others in overtime.
“There was no time or space on the ice, both teams worked really hard and were patient. The Czechs have a lot of talent and are difficult to beat, but we did a good job collectively, we scored goals in opportune moments, and it [Binnington] was solid. […] It was a really good hockey game, and I’m proud that we won it,” said Canadian team head coach André Tourigny.
The Czech Republic could have taken first place in the group, but instead finished the preliminary phase with 16 points. Switzerland, which will face Finland at the end of the day, is 14 points away, and could finish in second place in the group with a victory in regulation time.
Dawson Mercer and Brandon Hagel completed the scoring for Canada, and Jordan Binnington made 19 saves.
Dominik Kubalik, Ondrej Palat and Roman Cervenka provided the response for the host country, which also benefited from Dostal’s 22 saves.
Cervenka scored with one minute and 49 seconds remaining in the game, capping a stretch in which Canada and the Czech Republic exchanged five goals in 11 minutes.
Cozens opened the scoring on the power play just over a minute into the third period.
Kubalik tied the game on the power play at 9:11, but Canada responded with goals from Mercer and Hagel to take a 3-1 lead. There were 4:18 left in the game.
However, while Mercer was in the dugout for tripping, the Czechs cut their deficit in half thanks to Palat — as Dostal was replaced by a sixth skater.
Cervenka then caused extra time, while Dostal was still on the bench, less than two minutes later.
Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak played his first game of the tournament after the Massachusetts club was eliminated by the Florida Panthers in the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. He was cleared.