2022 Olympic Games. ROC - Czech Republic - 5:6 OT

In a pulsating battle, the ROC men's ice hockey team tallied the one point against the Czech Republic, losing 5:6 in overtime.

SKA forward Nikita Gusev was included in the second line and dished out three impressive assists, while goaltender Alexander Samonov was the back-up.

Vladimir Tkachyov and Nikita Nesterov - on the powerplay - had given ROC a 2:1 lead during the second frame. However, the game turned on its head after Dmitry Voronkov was handed a 5+20 penalty for an illegal check to the head, and the Czechs took full advantage of the subsequent extended powerplay as David Krejci and Michael Spacek hit the jackpot.

Lukas Klok extended the Czech advantage to three goals with a fierce wrister over Ivan Fedotov's glove at the start of the third period.

Nevertheless, ROC responded brilliantly to that setback, registering three consecutive goals in quick succession through Kirill Semyonov, Arseniy Gritsyuk and Andrei Chibisov to take the lead.

The Czechs weren't prepared to lie down, though, equalising moments later as Tomas Hyka caught Fedotov cold from a seemingly impossible angle on the right flank.

Overtime was indeed required to settle a memorable duel. Unfortunately, the Czech Republic were the ones to take the extra point, with Libor Sulak lashing a wrist shot past Fedotov after ROC defenseman Alexander Nikishin had been punished for slashing.

As Group B winners, ROC will return to action at the Olympics in the quarter-finals. The opponents will be confirmed after the Round of 16 reaches its completion.

Match protocol:

ROC - Czech Republic - 5:6 OT (1:1, 1:2, 3:2, 0:1)

Goals:

1:0 Tkachyov (Gusev, Nesterov), 04.51
1:1 Kundratek (Cervenka, Stransky), 12.37 PPG
2:1 Nesterov (Gusev, Plotnikov), 32.19 PPG
2:2 Krejci (Cervenka, Kundratek), 38.41 PPG
2:3 Spacek (Sulak, Sobotka), 39.16 PPG
2:4 Klok (T. Zahorna, H. Zahorna), 43.14
3:4 Semyonov (Plotnikov, Andronov), 43.50
4:4 Gritsyuk (Gusev, Tkachyov), 46.43
5:4 Chibisov (Voynov, Shipachyov), 48.22
5:5 Hyka (Sedlak, Krejci), 48.57
5:6 Sulak (Krejci), 64.29 PPG

Goalkeepers: Fedotov - Hrubec

Shots on target: 29 - 41

Faceoffs: 28 - 34

Penalty minutes: 33 - 10

12.02.22.