Olympics-Ice hockey-Canada survive OT thriller with Czechs to reach men's semis

MILAN – Mitch Marner scored an overtime goal to lift Canada past the Czech Republic 4-3 in a thrilling Olympic ice hockey quarter-final on Wednesday, securing a spot in the semifinals for the favorites.

Canada, the pre-tournament favorites, trailed 2-3 late in the third period before Nick Suzuki tied the game. Marner then found the back of the net over the Czech goalie’s shoulder in overtime, sparking celebrations among Canadian fans at Santagiulia Arena.

The Czech team exceeded expectations with a strong performance against Canada’s star-studded lineup but ran out of energy in the final moments.

Canada will be re-seeded for the semifinals along with the other three teams. The top seed will face the lowest surviving seed, while the second and third seeds play on Friday. Earlier Wednesday, Slovakia secured their semifinal spot with a 6-2 win over Germany.

-Reporting by Amy Tennery in Milan; Editing by Bill Berkrot/Reuters