If there were any questions surrounding Canada’s goaltending at Milano Cortina 2026, Jordan Binnington answered them emphatically on Thursday as he stopped 26 shots to earn a 5-0 shutout win over Czechia.
After backstopping Canada to gold at the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper went back to the St. Louis Blues’ goaltender despite his NHL struggles this season and was rewarded with a dominant performance.
“I can’t predict how things are going to go, but I have extreme confidence in that kid and I have for the past year,” Cooper said of Binnington following Thursday’s win. “He’s a proven winner to me. I have all the faith in the world in him, and I know our team does.
“You still have to go out there and perform and he did just that.”
Binnington was key early in the victory, making big stops on David Pastrnak and David Kampf in the first period to keep the game scoreless as the teams traded chances in the opening frame.
“We’re a strong team. They give me access to see and we did a good job tonight,” Binnington said. “Every country is good, every country has superstars. We just have to play hard every night from start to finish.”
Nathan MacKinnon appeared to open the scoring midway through the first but the goal was called back due to a delayed penalty called on Nick Suzuki.
Teenager Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring with five seconds remaining in the first period and Canada would continue to pour on the pressure, getting goals from Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, MacKinnon, and Suzuki. Connor McDavid had three assists in the victory while captain Sidney Crosby added a pair of helpers.
“I was happy with the way our game progressed. It was unfortunate we got that goal taken back early. We got a big one to get out of the period with five seconds left,” said Cooper. “I thought we got better as this game went on. Hopefully we can keep improving.”
Defenceman Josh Morrissey left the game in the second period and did not return. Shea Theodore replaced him on the second pairing with Colton Parayko.
Canada won the last Olympic Games with NHL players involved, claiming gold in Sochi in 2014.