"Mitch Marner (famously clutch) singlehandedly carved up the defense for the overtime winner, which might hit a little more if not for the awful 3-on-3 overtime format, but counts all the same. Canada's skill and speed was on display throughout; Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon ("Mach 3") made its debut as a line; McDavid setting up Celebrini for the game's first goal was an almost unfair connection."
"They played a bruising game, relying on the so-far-correct assumption that NHL refs are not likely to call things too far outside of NHL norms, no matter what the IIHF Rulebook says. They finished their checks and were liberal with their elbows. That physicality took its toll: Radko Gudas sent Sidney Crosby to the locker room early in the second period with what looked like a right leg injury."
Canada entered the matchup with a long streak of dominance and had not trailed in over 800 minutes of game time. Czechia, stocked with some top-end talent but largely non‑NHL personnel, pushed Canada physically and relied on counterattacks. Canada prevailed 4-3 in overtime, with Mitch Marner scoring the decisive goal and the Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon line debuting effectively. McDavid assisted the game’s first goal. Czech physical play produced consequences, including a play that sent Sidney Crosby to the locker room with a leg injury. The game combined Canadian speed and skill with Czech grit and opportunism.
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