Czechia scored the go-ahead goal against Canada with six skaters on the ice in today’s Olympic Men’s Hockey Quarterfinals. 

With just under 10 minutes remaining in the third period of Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup, Ondrej Palat fired a wrister past goaltender Jordan Binnington to put the Czechs ahead.  Six skaters celebrated the goal on the ice, the additional player undetected by the officials. 

The play was not eligible for video review, nor subject to a Coach’s Challenge.

In the Olympics, as in the NHL, coaches can challenge for goaltender interference, offside, or a missed stoppage.  Missed stoppages do not include missed penalty calls; those challenges would be limited to plays where the officials would have stopped play, like hand passes, pucks played with a high sticks, or pucks in the netting, per IIHF Rule 38.9.

No challenge.  No review. No way to overturn the goal on a missed call.

 


 

When asked about the play after the game, Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper declined to comment.

Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon did, however, weigh in when asked if he was aware that the Czechs had six skaters on the ice. 

“Yeah. The refs didn’t, though,” said MacKinnon. “It’s all good.”

It was, ultimately, all good for Team Canada who forced the tying goal and went on to win the game in overtime, 4-3.  Officials for the game were referees Michael Holm #28 (SWE) and Chris Rooney #5 (CAN/NHL) with linesmen David Brisebois #96 (CAN/NHL) and Jonny Murray #95 (CAN/NHL).

Canada moves on to play Finland on Friday in hopes of advancing to Sunday’s Olympic Gold Medal Game.