Team Canada dominated its first game of the 2026 Winter Olympics men's ice hockey tournament, defeating Czechia 5-0 on Thursday in Milan. Jordan Binnington recorded a 26-save shutout, while Connor McDavid contributed three assists in his Olympic debut. The win marks the return of NHL players to the Olympics after a 12-year absence.
The match at Santagiulia Arena in Milan served as the Group A opener for both teams, the first Olympic contest featuring NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Games. Canada, favored to reclaim gold after victories in 2010 and 2014, controlled the pace from the opening faceoff on the smaller Olympic ice surface.
Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old San Jose Sharks forward and youngest player in the tournament, opened scoring at 19:54 of the first period with a tip-in of Cale Makar's shot, becoming the first teenager to score a game-winning goal in an Olympics with NHL participants. Mark Stone made it 2-0 at 6:40 of the second on a feed from teammate Mitch Marner, followed by Bo Horvat's breakaway goal at 17:26, assisted by Brad Marchand.
In the third, Nathan MacKinnon scored on the power play at 7:42 with assists from Sidney Crosby and McDavid, showcasing Canada's elite skill. Nick Suzuki capped the scoring at 15:23, again with McDavid assisting. Czechia goalie Lukas Dostal made 31 saves on 36 shots but could not overcome Canada's depth.
Defenseman Josh Morrissey left the game in the second period with an undisclosed injury and did not return; coach Jon Cooper provided no immediate update. Binnington, starting despite recent struggles with the St. Louis Blues, quieted doubters with key early saves, including a diving stop on David Kampf.
"It felt good," Binnington said. "We did a good job of holding them down and letting me see pucks." McDavid set the tone with a hard hit on Jan Rutta and praised Celebrini: "He's so, so impressive."
Czechia captain Radko Gudas lauded Dostal: "He shows me every game in Anaheim that he is a world-class goalie." Canada improved to 11 straight wins in Olympic tournaments with NHL players. The team faces Switzerland on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET.
