Switzerland's Simon Knak, right, and the Czech Republic's Jacub Lauko battle behind the net during a Group B game at the hockey world championships on Friday in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)

HERNING, Denmark (AP) — Defending champion Czech Republic prevailed in overtime to open the men’s ice hockey world championship with a 5-4 victory over Switzerland on Friday in a rematch of last year’s final.

Roman Cervenka scored the winner 2:30 into overtime from the left circle after David Pastrnak fed him with his second assist in the game played in Herning, Denmark.

Czech Lukas Sedlak tied the game at 4-4 on a rebound on a power play with 3:47 left to force overtime.

Matej Stransky, Filip Zadina and Filip Pyrochta also scored for the Czechs who beat the Swiss 2-0 in the final last year in Prague.

Christian Marti, Damien Riat, Sandro Schmid and Sven Andrighetto scored for Switzerland.

In the Swedish capital of Stockholm, Finland topped Austria 2-1.

The United States was playing Denmark later Friday in Herning, while Sweden was to play Slovakia in Stockholm.

The tournament is the final men’s international test before the 2026 Winter Games in Italy, where NHL players return to the Olympics after 12 years.

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