MILAN – It did not take long for Connor McDavid to make his presence felt in Milan. The Edmonton Oilers centre knocked over Czechia’s Lukas Sedlak with a big hit during the first shift of his first Olympic game.
“A little bit of a different environment for us so it’s new for everybody,” McDavid told TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. “The rink’s new, the Olympic Games, everything’s new, so was just trying to get into the game early and was happy with how things went.”
A frustrated Sedlak ended up taking a holding penalty by grabbing McDavid and bringing him to the ice at the end of the shift.
McDavid’s opening statement had Canada’s bench buzzing.
“All the boys got pretty fired up,” said Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki. “Just lined the guy up really well and blew him up. So, really set the tone there.”
Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand initially thought that it was McDavid’s linemate, bruising Washington Capitals winger Tom Wilson, who landed the hit.
“Marchy, honestly, when I got back to the bench said, ‘Great hit Willy,’” Wilson revealed with a grin. “I said, ‘That was Davo.’ And he said, ‘Oh my [goodness], looked like you.’ That’s what it takes. Everybody’s doing whatever they can. Everyone’s taking on any role. When it’s your time to hit a guy, you hit him. When it’s your time to block a shot, you block a shot.”
McDavid went on to pile up three assists in Canada’s 5-0 win on Thursday.
“It shows you when you put this jersey on there’s nobody in that room that is entitled or anything like that,” Canada head coach Jon Cooper said. “This is game on. They do everything possible to win … That’s what’s great about this group. Listen, it’s just one game, but the way we’ve started and the way today’s gone, pretty proud and confident in the way this team’s going to play.”
‘Can’t say enough good things about him’: McDavid impressed by Celebrini’s performance Following Canada’s opening win over Czechia, Connor McDavid spoke about being tested in the first game, how he adapted to the game early on and Macklin Celebrini’s impressive performance.
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Canada and Czechia were evenly matched over the first 20 minutes with each side landing 11 shots on net.
“The first period was definitely one of the hardest-checking periods of the season so far and I expect more of that,” Suzuki said.
Thursday’s game represented Canada’s first best-on-best Olympic encounter since 2014 and the excitement and anticipation was palpable in the building and on the ice.
“You know what I liked, I thought we got better as that game went on,” said Cooper. “I don’t care who anybody is, whether you’re Sid [Crosby] to [Drew] Doughty to [Macklin] Celebrini, when you’re playing in the Olympics for the first time it never gets old and everyone’s got the jitters and I think you could tell that in the beginning of the game.”
As the tension built, Canada’s youngest player got to work. Celebrini, 19, deflected home a point shot by Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar to open the scoring with just 5.7 seconds left in the opening period.
“When I met Mac this summer, you could tell he just had that attitude, that swagger where he was going to be a great player for a long time,” said Wilson. “At that age, you just don’t see that and I could just tell.”
“Besides the goal, he played great,” said McDavid. “Just so, so solid along the wall. Made so many great plays. Kept so many pucks alive. Really, really impressive kid. I can’t say enough good things about him.”
Canada’s top line with McDavid between Celebrini and Wilson showed plenty of promise.
“Macklin did a great job getting in, getting pucks, turning stuff over,” Wilson said. “We were good on the foreheck. We were getting a lot of pucks back and transitioning them well towards the net.”
Milano Cortina 2026: Men’s Hockey – Czechia 0, Canada 5 In their opening match against Czechia on Thursday, Macklin Celebrini tipped home Cale Makar’s point shot for Canada’s first goal of the tournament. Mitch Marner connected with Golden Knights teammate Mark Stone for Canada’s second and Bo Horvat buried the breakaway goal later in the period to extend Canada’s lead. Connor McDavid finished with three assists and Jordan Binnington made 26 saves for the shutout in Canada’s first win of the preliminary round.
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Canada extended the lead in the second period when Mitch Marner made a beautiful move to set up his Vegas Golden Knights teammate Mark Stone.
“We played together a couple games throughout this year so we have pretty good chemistry and know where each other are going,” Marner said. “He’s really good at getting to the back side of the net and holding his stick down.”
Marner picked up a pass from Crosby on the boards and quickly cut toward the net. He then flipped a backhand pass just over sliding defenceman David Spacek. Marner jumped over Spacek at the end of the play.
“You just trust your skills and the plays you do,” said Marner. “I try to work on passing all throughout the summer and little plays that are on and off the stick and just getting it up in the air quickly and coming down.”
Marchand sprang New York Islanders centre Bo Horvat for a breakaway goal later in the middle stanza to put Canada up 3-0.
Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon scored on a power play in the third period before Suzuki added a fifth goal by deflecting in a pass from McDavid. All four of Canada’s lines hit the scoresheet.
“We just want to make everyone back home proud and the guy next to you,” said Wilson. “You want to play for the guy next to you and give it all you got. We got a solid identity through one game and we’ll stay dialled in here and just keep building.”
Canada will face Switzerland in their second of three preliminary-round games on Friday.
Canada’s offensive firepower on full display in dominant win over Czechia TSN Hockey analysts Martin Biron and Frankie Corrado join SportsCentre to explain what stood out to them about Canada’s win over Czechia, how big of a loss if would be for the Canadians if Josh Morrissey doesn’t return to the lineup, and if the net should be Jordan Binnington’s in the big games after Thursday’s 26-save shutout.
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Jordan Binnington rewarded Cooper’s faith by posting a 26-save shutout in his Olympic debut. When did the coach decide to give the struggling St. Louis Blues goalie the start?
“Well, probably 358 days ago,” Cooper said with a smile. “This isn’t a loyalty thing, but I have the utmost confidence in that kid. He’s proven it. Even when he’s had little stumbles, when push has come to shove, the kid’s been there for us.”
It was back on Feb. 20, 2025, 358 days ago, that Binnington backstopped Canada to an overtime win over the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.
“He’s got a lot of pride and he’s got a lot of talent and he’s done it on a lot of different stages so you gotta give the kid his shot,” said Cooper. “I feel like he’s deserved this opportunity.”
Binnington lost his final seven games with the Blues heading into the Olympics, but wearing the Maple Leaf seems to help the 32-year-old elevate.
“Completely different environment being in Europe,” Binnington told Rishaug. “We had the walk over from the dressing room [located in a different building] and this was a little different and kind of didn’t have time to think. Get out there and play.”
Multiple teammates highlighted Binnington’s puck-handling ability as a big factor in the game.
“We have such confidence when he’s in that net,” said Marner. “So good at playing the puck as well … As a forward, you got to be ready just in case because he’s going to get that puck around on his forehand or backhand and looking to make a play off the wall and spring the offence.”
Binnington’s .864 save percentage is among the worst marks in the NHL this season, but he looked calm and composed throughout Thursday’s game.
“I love that guy,” said Wilson. “He’s a gamer. I know him well. I train with him every summer. He played phenomenal. He made the saves he needed early and then he allowed us to get going and just looked great. Made a lot of good plays with the puck, swallowed everything up, made a couple highlight-reel saves so he’s a guy you can get behind.”
Hockey Canada’s faith in Binnington pays off in Olympic opener Mark Masters is joined by Pierre LeBrun and Ryan Rishaug to discuss Hockey Canada’s faith in Jordan Binnington as well as the goalie’s performance against Czechia, Macklin Celebrini’s impressive outing in his Olympic debut, and how all four of Team Canada’s lines were clicking in their opening win.
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Josh Morrissey left the game in the second period after sustaining an undisclosed injury. Cooper did not have an update on the Winnipeg Jets defenceman’s status.
Travis Sanheim, who sat as a healthy scratch, is the next man up on Canada’s defence.
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Team Canada’s lines in Thursday’s game:
Celebrini – McDavid – Wilson
Hagel – MacKinnon – Suzuki
Marner – Crosby – Stone
Marchand – Horvat – Reinhart
Bennett
Toews – Makar
Morrissey – Parayko
Harley – Doughty
Theodore
Binnington starts
Thompson
Scratches: Seth Jarvis, Travis Sanheim, Darcy Kuemper