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Martin Necas makes admission on six-skater goal vs Canada, the game that Sidney Crosby left hurt
Photo credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images
Martin Necas explaining Czechia's six-on-six goal vs Canada, with Sidney Crosby hurt, made Milano Cortina feel like a prank night.
It was the Olympic men's quarterfinal in Milan on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Canada escaped 4-3 in overtime when Mitch Marner scored at 1:22.
Czechia's wild moment came on Ondrej Palat's go-ahead goal for a 3-2 lead late in the third. The rush started with what looked like six Czech skaters during the change.
Necas's postgame story makes it even funnier.
He said the coaches shuffled lines and he hopped on for Jakub Červenka out of habit. Palat jumped too, and that accidental six-on-six turned into a goal.
The clip is right here.
"The coaches switched us up in the third period, and I was playing with Hertl and Palič. But I was used to switching with Červus. Well, we must've had some miscommunication with Palič.
So I jumped in for Červus. But Palič jumped in there too. Well, and that's how we scored that six-on-six goal.
Well, and now we're celebrating, and I see that Palič is there and on the other side Pasta. And as I'm looking at Pasta, I say 'dude, there's somehow too many of us here, something's off'. But if you wanna beat Canada, you gotta try everything."
- Martin Necas
So I jumped in for Červus. But Palič jumped in there too. Well, and that's how we scored that six-on-six goal.
Well, and now we're celebrating, and I see that Palič is there and on the other side Pasta. And as I'm looking at Pasta, I say 'dude, there's somehow too many of us here, something's off'. But if you wanna beat Canada, you gotta try everything."
- Martin Necas
No call came, and IIHF rules do not allow video review after a scoring play for too many men. Czechia got a break, Canada did not.
Martin Necas pushed Team Canada to the edge
Canadian fans were laughing, but it felt like the kind of bounce that can really flip a tournament.
Crosby left in the second with a lower-body injury after a hit from Radko Gudas, then another collision with Gudas and Necas. He did not return at all.
Before he went down, Crosby had 2-4-6 in four games. The bench leaned on Macklin Celebrini and kept the power play moving.
Nick Suzuki tied it 3-3 with 3:27 left, and Marner finished the comeback. Czechia still had a late breakaway look from Necas, but Jordan Binnington held.
That is why this quote landed, because Czechia did not fluke its way into the game. With Tomas Hertl and David Pastrnak driving play, Canada spent stretches chasing.
Now the Penguins wait on Crosby's return, and their next game will feel heavier than any joke.
Also read on HockeyUnplugged :
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| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 26|138 ANSWERS Martin Necas makes admission on six-skater goal vs Canada, the game that Sidney Crosby left hurt Should too many men plays be reviewed? | ||
| Yes | 115 | 83.3 % |
| No | 23 | 16.7 % |
| List of polls | ||