Team Europe clicking after 3-2 overtime win over Czech Republic at World Cup

TORONTO — Ralph Krueger was well aware of the odds against Team Europe entering the World Cup of Hockey, but his group never saw it as a hurdle. Instead, the team represented by seven different countries, listened to the veteran coach’s message.

The speed at which Team Europe has bought into what Krueger was preaching has them sitting atop Group A following a 3-2 overtime victory over the Czech Republic on Monday.

“They always believed we’d have a shot at being where we are today. Probably nobody outside of our room did,” Krueger said. “We haven’t even spoken about winning, we’ve just spoken about execution and growth since Day 1, but we never used any negative motivators.

“We’re not done with these two games, we want to continue into the next game and bring a high level and compete onwards.”

Leon Draisaitl scored the overtime winner 2:06 into the extra period, picking up a Mats Zuccarello feed and beating Czech goaltender Petr Mrazek low on his blocker side for his second goal of the tournament.

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With the win, Europe takes over the top spot in Group A with a 2-0 record. The loss drops the Czechs to 0-2 and all but eliminates them from advancing to the semifinals.

“It’s not great, we lost two games and we don’t have much chance right now to go to semis,” said Martin Hanzal, who scored his first of the tournament in the third period to force overtime. “We’ve got to hope that Canada loses twice, it’s going to be really hard, but there’s still a chance.”

Zdeno Chara and Zuccarello scored in regulation for Europe while Jaroslav Halak stopped 28 shots for his second win of the tournament.

Jakub Voracek had the other goal for the Czech Republic. Mrazek made 38 saves in the loss.

The Czechs now have two days off before concluding the preliminary round against the United States.

Europe took a 2-1 lead at 2:17 on Zuccarello’s first of the tournament. Moments after sprawling out to rob Roman Josi with a huge glove save, Mrazek mishandled Zuccarello’s fluttering wrist shot.

Hanzal tied the game 2-2 on a power play at 8:31 of the third, picking up the bounce off the end boards off of a Vladimir Sobotka’s point shot and beating Halak.

The two teams were tied 1-1 after 40 minutes.

Chara opened the scoring at 10:04 of the second period, beating a screened Mrazek with a floater from the top of the faceoff circle for his first of the tournament.

Voracek tied the game 1-1 at 13:28 of the second period getting around a pinching Roman Josi and beating Halak.

Europe outshot the Czechs 21-9 in the second period and had plenty of opportunities to take over the game.

Just over two minutes in and with Europe already on a power play, Czech defenceman Michal Kempny jumped on a lose puck in the crease, giving Europe a penalty shot. Anze Kopitar took the shot but could not beat Mrazek five-hole with a backhand deke.

Then, just past the six-minute mark of the second, Marian Hossa beat Halak glove side, but put his wrist shot off the post.

“We really got together within the room,” Draisaitl said. “By now, everyone kind of knows their role and that’s really important on a team. We just clicked as a team.”

Dhiren Mahiban, The Canadian Press