The Czechs will play for the gold medal on home ice in Prague but they’ll do so without defenseman Jan Rutta, who has been suspended one game by the IIHF World Championship Disciplinary Panel for an elbow to the head of Swedish forward Isac Lundeström.

Rutta, who was not penalized on the play, was pressed for comments on the incident by Swedish media after the game.

“To be honest, I haven’t seen it. You’re telling me I elbowed him in the face. I have no idea. I haven’t seen it. I asked him after and he said he’s okay,” said Rutta. “You never want to see a hockey player lying on the ice, so luckily he’s okay.”

“Can you understand that Team Sweden is upset over the hit there from you?” asked a journalist.

“You guys are upset … I have no idea,” Rutta answered.

“You said that you talked to him and he was okay,” another journalist began.

“Yes,” Rutta responded.

“But he went to the locker room after that happened, so … what? He got better? What did he say to you?” the cross-examination continued.

“I asked him how he’s feeling. He said he’s okay.”

At that point, the line of questioning on the Lundeström hit came to an end.

Although he will be suspended for the game against Switzerland, Rutta will be permitted to step onto the ice after the game is over in order to participate in the ceremony and receive his medal, which will be either gold or silver.