Canada survive Czech Republic scare to make semi-finals in overtime

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/dSsR389c/"]Canada[/a] have been labelled one of the best teams ever assembled, and breezed through their group game, winning all three of their matches.[/p][p]But, they faced tougher opposition in the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/czech-republic/OdY4GUuO/"]Czech Republic[/a], who were not to be outfought.[/p][p]They did go behind early through young sensation Celebrini in the third minute of the opening period, but levelled five minutes later as Sedlak netted.[/p][p]The game was full of big hits, and after Canada's goalscorer was sent to the penalty box for interference, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/pastrnak-david/dnZgEHz4/"]David Pastrnak[/a] took advantage with a trademark first-time shot.[/p][p]They took that lead into the second period before MacKinnion scored on a Canadian power play to make it 2-2 midway through the second period.[/p][image alt="Canada - Czech Republic match stats" id="394b5930-bf92-4346-b8de-af26541dd81c" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="6cd45b7f-f925-4bda-8a9b-2d3625eaf8ed" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Concerns then switched to their talisman, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/crosby-sidney/UTbIZpKC/"]Sidney Crosby[/a], who left the ice limping late on in the second period, after taking a couple of heavy hits from the Czech defenders. He would not return to action, with his fitness for Friday's semi now questionable.[/p][p]Back on the ice, Canada continued to pound the goal of Lukas Dostal, but he would not break, and Czech dreams were rekindled seven minutes from time as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/palat-ondrej/QBIFkooN/"]Ondrej Palat[/a] got onto the end of a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/necas-martin/lMcuOznA/"]Martin Necas[/a] pass on the breakaway to give his side a vital lead.[/p][p]It would prove fruitless, as Canada got back into the game late on through a Suzuki deflection, before [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marner-mitchell/Agmv3YoI/"]Marner[/a] sealed it 82 seconds into overtime.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/hockey/canada-dSsR389c/czech-republic-OdY4GUuO/?mid=GpybFGz9"]Check out the game summary with Flashscore.[/a][/p]