Switzerland defeated Czechia 4-3 in overtime to take second place in Group A at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Defenceman Dean Kukan scored the overtime winner at 1:49 as Switzerland edged Czechia 4-3 to nail down second place in Group A.
Kukan, a 32-year-old veteran of eight IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, sped into the Czech zone and beat goalie Lukas Dostal high to the stick side with a tremendous wrister from the left faceoff circle.
Switzerland's NHL skaters were key contributors in this hard-fought affair. In regulation time, captain Roman Josi and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist, and Pius Suter added a single.
"Over 60 minutes, that was our best game this tournament," said Swiss defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler. "Our forecheck was connected. Our breakouts helped us play fast and with speed. Everything was working well. I liked our game."
For Czechia, Colorado Avalanche star Martin Necas stepped up with a goal and two assists. Filip Chlapik had a goal and an assist, and Radek Simek also scored. The Czechs equalized twice in the third period to send it to overtime.
"We've played them many times and the games are pretty similar," said Czech captain Roman Cervenka. "We knew what to expect, but we didn't find a way to win. We're disappointed right now."
Both the Swiss and Czechs previously defeated pointless France and lost to powerhouse Canada. The Canadians wrap up Group A versus the French on Sunday.
It was a heart-and-soul effort by the Swiss. Coach Patrick Fischer's squad had to play without Kevin Fiala, the 2025 World Championship MVP, who suffered a tournament-ending injury in a collision with Tom Wilson in the 5-1 loss to Canada. Forward Denis Malgin and defenceman Andrea Glauser also got upper-body injuries in that game. Philipp Kurashev took Fiala’s place on the top line, while Suter moved up to centre Nino Niederreiter and Sven Andrighetto. Blueliner Tim Berni entered the lineup in place of Glauser.
Final shots favoured Czechia 32-29. As expected, this was a fine duel between two top netminders: Dostal, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks and backstopped his nation to home-ice gold at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, and ageless Swiss veteran Leonardo Genoni, the 2025 Worlds MVP.
The teams delivered exciting continuous action from the drop of the puck. The Swiss forecheck got rolling, from Meier hammering blueliner Tomas Kundratek to Philipp Kurashev testing Dostal in tight.
It was the Czechs – quick in transition in the neutral zone – who drew first blood at 15:19. On an odd-man rush, Necas, who has 40 assists in 52 games with the Colorado Avalanche this year, dished the puck right to Chlapik and he zapped it past Genoni.
Czechia finished up the first period on the power play after Necas drew an interference penalty on Siegenthaler. The Swiss had the best chance on a shorthanded rush, but blueliner Janis Moser couldn't beat Dostal on his initial attempt or the follow-up.
Nearing the three-minute mark of the second period, Dostal denied Swiss ace Nico Hischier on another great chance. At this point, the Czechs were playing good tactical defence, taking away time and space and waiting for counterattacks.
"It's a game of ups and downs," said Siegenthaler. "They had momentum, we had momentum. The beauty of the game is having the ability to change the momentum to your side."
Late in the middle frame, Boston Bruins superstar David Pastrnak missed a glorious power-play chance to double Czechia's lead when he put a backhander over a wide-open net. Josi heroically stuck out his stick to tip the puck wide.
Activating their defence, the Swiss finally got some puck luck with the equalizer at 16:53. Busting into the Czech zone, Josi tried to skim the puck left to Moser, but his pass deflected off the skate of Radko Gudas and past Dostal. The Swiss faithful at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena burst into song.
At 18:37, Meier put Switzerland up 2-1 on the power play, backhanding in the rebound from Josi's heavy point drive. It was the team-leading third goal of these Olympics for Meier,
The Czechs pressed for the tying goal, which came at 6:33. Necas's point shot through traffic deflected off Chlapkik in front, and a charging Simek whacked the puck into a wide-open net before sliding into the end boards.
Suter answered right back at 8:07, capitalizing on chaos in front of the Czech net and firing the puck past Dostal to make it 3-2 Switzerland.
Czechia came ever-so-close to tying it up on the power play with under four minutes left, but the goal was immediately waved off as Pastrnak had interfered with Genoni in front.
Necas finally got the 3-3 equalizer with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle at 17:54.
"It's a shame we had to lose in overtime," said Czechia's Jakub Flek. "They have a good team. It doesn't matter who plays for them. We have to take care of ourselves."
The Swiss – a rising power in international hockey with four IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship silver medals in the last 13 years (2013, 2018, 2024, 2025) – have some recent history with the Czechs.
In the “NHL Olympics" era, the Swiss famously shocked the Czechs 3-2 at the 2006 Olympics on the strength of goalie David Aebischer’s 40-save performance. They also blanked Czechia 1-0 at the 2014 Olympics with Jonas Hiller earning a 26-save shutout.
On the other hand, the Czechs unforgettably beat Switzerland 2-0 in the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship final in Prague on Pastrnak’s third-period goal. But at least here and now in Milan, it's Switzerland that's got bragging rights heading into the qualification playoffs.
Kukan, a 32-year-old veteran of eight IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships, sped into the Czech zone and beat goalie Lukas Dostal high to the stick side with a tremendous wrister from the left faceoff circle.
Switzerland's NHL skaters were key contributors in this hard-fought affair. In regulation time, captain Roman Josi and Timo Meier each had a goal and an assist, and Pius Suter added a single.
"Over 60 minutes, that was our best game this tournament," said Swiss defenceman Jonas Siegenthaler. "Our forecheck was connected. Our breakouts helped us play fast and with speed. Everything was working well. I liked our game."
For Czechia, Colorado Avalanche star Martin Necas stepped up with a goal and two assists. Filip Chlapik had a goal and an assist, and Radek Simek also scored. The Czechs equalized twice in the third period to send it to overtime.
"We've played them many times and the games are pretty similar," said Czech captain Roman Cervenka. "We knew what to expect, but we didn't find a way to win. We're disappointed right now."
Both the Swiss and Czechs previously defeated pointless France and lost to powerhouse Canada. The Canadians wrap up Group A versus the French on Sunday.
It was a heart-and-soul effort by the Swiss. Coach Patrick Fischer's squad had to play without Kevin Fiala, the 2025 World Championship MVP, who suffered a tournament-ending injury in a collision with Tom Wilson in the 5-1 loss to Canada. Forward Denis Malgin and defenceman Andrea Glauser also got upper-body injuries in that game. Philipp Kurashev took Fiala’s place on the top line, while Suter moved up to centre Nino Niederreiter and Sven Andrighetto. Blueliner Tim Berni entered the lineup in place of Glauser.
Final shots favoured Czechia 32-29. As expected, this was a fine duel between two top netminders: Dostal, who plays for the Anaheim Ducks and backstopped his nation to home-ice gold at the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, and ageless Swiss veteran Leonardo Genoni, the 2025 Worlds MVP.
The teams delivered exciting continuous action from the drop of the puck. The Swiss forecheck got rolling, from Meier hammering blueliner Tomas Kundratek to Philipp Kurashev testing Dostal in tight.
It was the Czechs – quick in transition in the neutral zone – who drew first blood at 15:19. On an odd-man rush, Necas, who has 40 assists in 52 games with the Colorado Avalanche this year, dished the puck right to Chlapik and he zapped it past Genoni.
Czechia finished up the first period on the power play after Necas drew an interference penalty on Siegenthaler. The Swiss had the best chance on a shorthanded rush, but blueliner Janis Moser couldn't beat Dostal on his initial attempt or the follow-up.
Nearing the three-minute mark of the second period, Dostal denied Swiss ace Nico Hischier on another great chance. At this point, the Czechs were playing good tactical defence, taking away time and space and waiting for counterattacks.
"It's a game of ups and downs," said Siegenthaler. "They had momentum, we had momentum. The beauty of the game is having the ability to change the momentum to your side."
Late in the middle frame, Boston Bruins superstar David Pastrnak missed a glorious power-play chance to double Czechia's lead when he put a backhander over a wide-open net. Josi heroically stuck out his stick to tip the puck wide.
Activating their defence, the Swiss finally got some puck luck with the equalizer at 16:53. Busting into the Czech zone, Josi tried to skim the puck left to Moser, but his pass deflected off the skate of Radko Gudas and past Dostal. The Swiss faithful at the Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena burst into song.
At 18:37, Meier put Switzerland up 2-1 on the power play, backhanding in the rebound from Josi's heavy point drive. It was the team-leading third goal of these Olympics for Meier,
The Czechs pressed for the tying goal, which came at 6:33. Necas's point shot through traffic deflected off Chlapkik in front, and a charging Simek whacked the puck into a wide-open net before sliding into the end boards.
Suter answered right back at 8:07, capitalizing on chaos in front of the Czech net and firing the puck past Dostal to make it 3-2 Switzerland.
Czechia came ever-so-close to tying it up on the power play with under four minutes left, but the goal was immediately waved off as Pastrnak had interfered with Genoni in front.
Necas finally got the 3-3 equalizer with a one-timer from the left faceoff circle at 17:54.
"It's a shame we had to lose in overtime," said Czechia's Jakub Flek. "They have a good team. It doesn't matter who plays for them. We have to take care of ourselves."
The Swiss – a rising power in international hockey with four IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship silver medals in the last 13 years (2013, 2018, 2024, 2025) – have some recent history with the Czechs.
In the “NHL Olympics" era, the Swiss famously shocked the Czechs 3-2 at the 2006 Olympics on the strength of goalie David Aebischer’s 40-save performance. They also blanked Czechia 1-0 at the 2014 Olympics with Jonas Hiller earning a 26-save shutout.
On the other hand, the Czechs unforgettably beat Switzerland 2-0 in the 2024 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship final in Prague on Pastrnak’s third-period goal. But at least here and now in Milan, it's Switzerland that's got bragging rights heading into the qualification playoffs.
Switzerland vs Czechia - 2026 Men's Olympic Games
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