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Replay raises questions about Czechia’s third goal vs Canada, and the images show why


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Austin Kelly
February 18, 2026  (3:57 PM)
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Canada vs Czechia at the 2026 Olympics Men's Ice Hockey Tournament
Photo credit: CBC

Controversy in Canada's 4-3 over Czechia as the Olympic referees appeared to miss out on a call against Czechia which led to their third goal of the game.

Despite Canada's 4-3 overtime win against Czechia, one moment earlier in the game has been a secondary complaint among fans that could have demands for additional change.
On Czechia's third goal of the game that put them up 3-2, it was noticed by multiple users over social media that the Czechs had too many men on the ice.
As has been pointed out, Czechia appeared to have six skaters on the ice during their third goal scored by Ondrej Palat, which wasn't called as a 'too many men' penalty by the Olympic officials.
According to James Duthie of TSN, almost neither player or coaching staff for both teams noticed that there were too many on the Czech side.
The play itself was not reviewable, so even with Palat's goal, it would not have been able to be challenged with the referees not having called the penalty prior to the goal.

Olympic refereeing error nearly costs Canada the game vs Czechia

If Canada had not come back to win from goals thanks to Nick Suzuki and Mitch Marner, the conversation could have been even louder on the error made on the Palat goal.
Already a complaint from fans, it would only be even more criticized as potentially costing the Canadians a win with a goal that many have argued should not have counted.
It wasn't just on Canada's size the refeering faced condemnation, as Czechia head coach Radim Rulik criticized the refs as well, claiming that the Czechs were playing against the odds:
We were basically playing against six players. I don’t want to make excuses, and no one has to agree with me, but the video backs me up.
To little surprise, there was widespread mockery to Rulik's claim with the fact of Czechia's literal six-man goal.
Canada moves on to the semifinals of the Olympics with Czechia heading home, but that has come with one moment that could have changed both teams fortunes completely.
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Replay raises questions about Czechia’s third goal vs Canada, and the images show why

Should the Ondrej Palat 'six-man' goal have counted?

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