Needing a win after their opening-game humiliation at the hands of Team Canada, Team Czech Republic rallied back from one-goal deficits in the second and third periods before falling in overtime, 3-2, to Team Europe in World Cup of Hockey action on Monday.

After Michal Neuvirth gutted through a lack of defensive support and some physical discomfort in the third period of Saturday's 6-0 loss to Canada, it was not a surprise when Detroit Red Wings goaltender Petr Mrazek got the call to start in goal for the Czechs against Team Europe.

Mrazek had an up-and-down performance on Monday. He made numerous outstanding saves among the 38 stops he authored on 41 shots. Along the way, he made a tremendous glove save on Roman Josi at the end of a 5-on-3 penalty kill. He also denied Anze Kopitar on a penalty shot caused by Michal Kempny covering the puck in the crease with his hand during a scramble around the net.

On the flip side, Mrazek boxed a routine perimeter shot by Mats Zuccarello into a go-ahead goal for Team Europe at 2:17 of the third period. In overtime, after Zuccarello sprang Leon Draisaitl on a breakaway, Draisaitl surprised and beat Mrazek low to the stick side with a 25-foot wrister to win the game and made it look almost easy.

The bigger issue, as with the Canada game, was that the Czech side continued to allow too many shots on goal, both in quantity and quality.

The Czechs received goals from Jakub Voracek and Martin Hanzal.

With Team Europe leading 1-0 in the middle stages of the second period after a Zdeno Chara goal, Voracek carried the mail into the right circle and snapped a shot past Team Europe goaltender Jaroslav Halak (28 saves on 30 shots). After the Zuccarello goal put Team Europe ahead again in the third period, Hanzal stuffed home a puck that bounced to him off the end boards. Vladimir Sobotka and Ales Hemsky earned the assists.

The Czech team plays Team USA on Thursday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN2 in the United States).

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