Czechia Eyes Redemption as Necas Leads Olympic Charge into Elimination Clash with Denmark
The margin for error is gone. The preliminary round of the 2026 Winter Olympics is in the books, and Czechia finds itself staring down a must-win matchup against Denmark on Tuesday.
Win, and they punch their ticket to the quarterfinals-and a date with powerhouse Canada. Lose, and it’s an early flight home.
And for Martin Necas, this is the moment to take the wheel.
Czechia’s Olympic journey has already seen its share of highs and lows. The tournament opened with a gut-punch 5-0 loss to Team Canada-a game where Czechia never found its footing. But they bounced back with a 6-3 win over France, a game that saw Necas open the scoring and add an assist in a much-needed confidence boost.
Then came Sunday’s heartbreaker: a 4-3 overtime loss to Switzerland. It was a game that could’ve gone off the rails late, but Necas had other plans.
With just over two minutes left in regulation, he buried the equalizer that forced OT and gave Czechia a fighting chance. That moment didn’t change the final result, but it kept the team’s Olympic hopes alive-and it was the kind of play you expect from your top guy when everything’s on the line.
Now, the task is clear. Beat Denmark, or go home.
On paper, this is a winnable game for Czechia. They’ve got the top-end talent, the experience, and a roster built for moments like this.
But nothing comes easy in Olympic hockey, especially in a single-elimination format. That’s why getting off to a fast start will be critical.
Necas, who’s already shown flashes of brilliance, will need to be the tone-setter-creating offense, driving play, and setting the example for a team that knows what’s at stake.
If Czechia gets it done, a quarterfinal showdown with Canada awaits-a rematch of that opening blowout loss, and a chance to flip the script in dramatic fashion.
There’s an added wrinkle, too. Should Czechia advance, Necas would face off against his NHL teammates, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, both central figures on a loaded Canadian roster. That potential clash adds even more intrigue, especially for Avalanche fans watching from home, who could see their stars battling for Olympic supremacy on opposite sides of the ice.
And if you’re looking for historical inspiration, Czechia has it. Back in 1998, the then-Czech Republic stunned Canada in the quarterfinals in Nagano, riding a legendary performance from Dominik Hasek all the way to Olympic gold. That team didn’t blink when the lights got bright-and while this current squad may not have a Hall of Fame netminder in the crease, they do have a deeper, more balanced lineup ready to write its own chapter.
That 5-0 loss to Canada? It’s in the rearview mirror.
The real tournament starts now. And if Martin Necas can rise to the occasion again, Czechia just might find itself back in the Olympic spotlight-this time with revenge, redemption, and maybe even a little history on the line.