Winter Olympics 2018: Canada wins bronze in men's hockey after 10-goal thriller

Rudi Schuller

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Winter Olympics 2018: Canada wins bronze in men's hockey after 10-goal thriller image

Canada earned a spot on the podium in men's hockey after a 6-4 win over the Czech Republic on Saturday.

Coming 24 hours after the disappointment of falling to Germany in a shocking semifinal, the Canadians were able to regroup and hold off a plucky Czech team in a wild bronze medal game.

Veterans Chris Kelly and Andrew Ebbett each scored twice in a contest that seemed well in hand for the Canadians in the dying minutes of the third period, only for the Czechs to cut what was a four-goal Canadian lead to a two-goal advantage with just over two minutes remaining.

That led to a frenzied finish to a third period that saw the Czechs outshoot Canada 13-9, but Willie Desjardins' team was able to hold off the onslaught to cement its place on the Olympic podium.

The bronze medal extended Canada's streak of podium finishes in men's hockey to three, following gold medal victories in 2010 and 2014.

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Sporting News provided live updates and highlights as the game progressed. You can check that out below.

Canada 6, Czech Republic 4: Updates, highlights, score

3rd Period

0:00 - It's over! Canada wins bronze!

0:41.5 - The Czechs are now throwing everything, including the proverbial kitchen sink, at Canada's net. A mad scramble in front of goal finally gets blown dead with bodies strewn about.

2:05 - CZECH REPUBLIC SCORES! With the power play, the Czechs pull their goalie to take a two-man advantage into the dying minutes. It leads to a shooting gallery, and eventually the Czechs get one by Poulin. 6-4 Canada.

3:05 - Canada has six men on the ice. That's a penalty.

3:34 - CZECH REPUBLIC SCORES! Once again, the Czechs respond to a Canadian goal with one of their own within a short period of time. Goal is reviewed, and it's deemed a good one. 6-3 Canada.

4:37 - CANADA SCORES! Wolski pokes it home, and Canada is headed to a bronze medal. 6-2 Canada.

6:00 - Just six minutes until the bronze medal is handed out.

8:00 - Derek Roy had to change jerseys after sustaining a cut on his chin and getting blood on his uniform. He's now in a nameless No. 75 sweater.

9:11 - CZECH REPUBLIC SCORES! It seems that Canada cannot score without the Czechs answering shortly thereafter. The Canadians are challenging the goal as they feel there was goaltender interference. Goal is overturned. Still 5-2 for Canada.  

10:23 - CANADA SCORES! Captain Kelly pings one off the post and in to restore the three-goal lead. 5-2 Canada.

13:24 - CZECH REPUBLIC SCORES! The Czechs answer quickly, just as in the first period. This game is not done yet. 4-2 Canada.

14:10 - CANADA SCORES! Ebbett redirects a Kozun pass to give his team a three-goal lead. 4-1 Canada.

15:50 -

16:20 - Still waiting for the first really dangerous scoring chance of the period.

20:00 - Here we go. Canada is twenty minutes away from claiming Olympic bronze.

2nd intermission

- Elsewhere in Pyeongchang, short track speed skater and triple-medallist Kim Boutin was named Canada's flag bearer for the closing ceremony. Read about that here .

- Shifting gears a bit, the Arkells played Canada Olympic House in Pyeongchang today...

- That was a much less open period of hockey, with only 11 shots between the teams. Canada had the shooting advantage in the middle frame, 7-4.

2nd Period 

0:00 - That's it for the second period. No goals from either side, but much better overall play by the Canadians.

0:26.7 - Bourque tries to go high on the Czech goalie, but he's unsuccessful and takes a nasty fall after the play.

1:31 - The Czechs get their first real chance of the period, requiring a nicer kick save from Poulin.

3:27 - Nothing comes of the power play. In fact, Canada very nearly scores a shorthanded breakaway right at the end of the penalty kill.

5:27 - Derek Roy goes to the box on a holding call. Czech power play upcoming.

6:00 - Canada is doing a good job keeping the Czechs in their own zone. Only three shots in this period for the Czech Republic.

9:57 - The penalty is killed off well by the Czech Republic.

11:58 - The first penalty of the period is called against the Czechs' Martin Erat. Slashing.

12:28 - Poulin does well to dive on a bouncing puck that deflected off several players on the way into the goalmouth.

14:30 - Canada is doing well to press the Czechs. Neither team has looked offensively threatening in this period yet.

16:30 - Another tentative start to a period, although the Czechs seem to have a bit more purpose coming out of the locker room.

20:00 - And the second period is underway.

1st intermission

- Despite leading by a pair of goals, Canada is being outshot 15-8 by the Czechs after 20 minutes.

1st Period

0:00 - The horn sounds after an eventful first period. Canada holds a 3-1 lead.

4:03 - CANADA SCORES! Derek Roy goes five-hole after a speedy transition by Canada. It's 3-1 for the Canadians.

6:12 - The penalty is done, and there's a mad scramble in front of Canada's net that ultimately amounts to nothing.

8:18 - Czech Republic is going on the power play Cody Goloubef is headed to the penalty box.

10:32 - CANADA SCORES! Three goals in 28 seconds now, with Chris Kelly tipping a shot into the Czech net. Canada now leads 2-1.

10:47 - CZECH REPUBLIC SCORES! The Czechs storm right down the ice and answer back to tie the game up. 1-1.

11:03 - CANADA SCORES! The puck deflects off Andrew Ebbet's skate and in for the opening goal. 1-0 Canada.

12:38 - Canada finally registers its first shot of the game. And now they the Canadians are going to the power play after Rene Bourque is pulled down.

13:00 - Not a great start for the Canadians...

14:20 - Poulin has to be sharp as the puck is deflected with a crowd in front of him. 

16:36 - The first shot on goal comes from the Czechs after a very tentative opening three-plus minutes.

20:00 -   We're underway!

Pre-Game

Here's how Canada will line up against the Czechs:

The Germans are gracious winners.

 

Rudi Schuller