MILAN, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- Canada, the United States and defending champion Finland needed overtime to reach the men's ice hockey semifinals at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday, while Slovakia advanced with a regulation win.
Canada edged the Czech Republic 4-3. Mitch Marner struck 1:22 into overtime, finishing off a quick transition to send Canada into the semifinals and keep alive its bid for a fourth Olympic gold medal of the 21st century, after titles in 2002, 2010 and 2014.
"We've still got a lot of work to do. We've still got a big challenge ahead of us. We need to just kind of make sure we stay focused and keep doing the work," Marner said.
Finland also left it late in a 3-2 overtime win over Switzerland. After conceding two quick first-period goals, the Finns pulled level in the final minutes to force overtime, and Artturi Lehkonen scored the winner.
The United States beat Sweden 2-1. After the teams were tied 1-1 after regulation, Quinn Hughes scored 3:27 into overtime to send the Americans through.
In the day's opening quarterfinal, Slovakia produced a composed 6-2 victory over Germany.
In Friday's semifinals, Canada will face Finland while the United States takes on Slovakia. ■
