Team Canada (tournament favourites) made a statement on Thursday. They dominated in a 5-0 win over Czechia to open their men’s Olympic ice hockey campaign. Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington turned away all 26 shots he faced for his first Olympic shutout.
Macklin Celebrini, Canada’s 19-year-old prodigy, scored with 5.7 seconds left in the first period. Canadian forwards Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nick Suzuki were the other goal scorers. Connor McDavid notched three assists in the stage opener for Group A.
Binnington stretched to make an incredible save on a prime chance from Czechia forward David Kampf late in the first period. Canada got on the board first when defenseman Cale Makar fired the puck toward the net, and Celebrini tipped it in.
Team Canada: Second Period
Forward Mitch Marner was living up to his Magic Mitch nickname. He conjured up a bit of magic in the crease during the second period. Marner flipped the puck over a prone Czechia defenseman (David Spacek) and connected with his Vegas Golden Knight teammate Stone, who put it into the net.
Horvat beat the Czechia goaltender to add another goal for Team Canada. The goal came less than three minutes before the second intermission.
Third Period
MacKinnon tapped in the fourth goal of the game. The assists were by NHL point leader McDavid and team captain Sidney Crosby. A crazy display of Canada’s brightest stars. Suzuki tipped in the fifth and final goal for Canada off another McDavid assist.
The NHL’s return to the Winter Olympics gives Canada a lethal advantage. No surprise from a country that regards ice hockey as a way of life. Santagiulia Arena was filled with Canadian fans. They packed into the Venue to watch Team Canada put on a masterful performance.
Canada’s arch-rivals, the United States, won 5-1 over Latvia. Team USA has not won since 1980, but is considered the likeliest to challenge Canada for the Gold Medal.
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