Eduard Šalé has shown "he's one of those names" for a stacked 2023 NHL Draft with his play at U18s

LANDSHUT, Germany -- The stakes couldn't have been much higher when Eduard Šalé wound up for the one-timer, awaiting the Jiří Kulich pass with 2:34 left in the third period of Czechia's final preliminary round game against the Canadians.

Aim true, and Šalé could tie the game 5-5 and send it to overtime, with a chance at second place in Group A and a historic win over one of the sport's foremost powers. Miss, and it's a two-hour drive to Kaufbeuren and a difficult quarterfinals match against Finland.

Šalé seemed to understand what was on the line as he hammered the puck past Canadian netminder Reid Dyck, setting the stage for Czechia's 6-5 win in overtime.

"He’s got the gift," Czech head coach Jakub Petr said of Šalé's performance to EP Rinkside. "He can score in practices. He can score in lik