The 2026 IIHF Men's World Championship group stage is complete, as each Florida Panthers representative knows who they will face in the quarterfinals.
Florida Panthers prospect Marek Alscher scored a beautfil goal for Czechia as they lost 3-2 to wrap up the group stage.
Czechia finishes the group stage with a 4-0-1-2 record, finishing in third place in Group B.
The Czech’s started their seventh game of the tournament strong, as Alscher opened the scoring with a rocket into the top corner past Columbus Blue Jackets netminder Jet Greaves.
Czechia added another in the middle frame to take a 2-0 lead, but Canada stormed back with a pair of goals from captain Macklin Celebrini and the game-winner from Toronto Maple Leafs and Team Canada alternate captain John Tavares.
Canada finishes the round robin with a 6-1-0-0 record, not dropping a single game. They'll take on Matthew Tkachuk and Team USA in the quarterfinals.
As for Czechia, they’ll battle with Aleksander Barkov, Anton Lundell, and Team Finland in what should be an exciting quarterfinals matchup.
Elsewhere, Sandis Vilmanis posted two goals and three points against Hungary as Latvia secured third place in Group A. Vilmanis ends the group stage with four goals and 11 points in seven games.
As for Barkov, his two goals against Switzerland give him two goals and eight points in seven games. Lundell has posted three goals and five points, Tkachuk has notched four goals and seven points in four games, and Alscher has recorded two goals in seven games.
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