Canada hockey blanks Czechia 5-0 in Olympic opener as Binnington steals the show
Team Canada opened its Milano Cortina 2026 campaign with a statement, rolling past Czechia 5-0 on Wednesday (ET) as Jordan Binnington delivered a composed 26-save shutout and Connor McDavid orchestrated the attack with three assists.
Binnington answers the bell in crease debate
In the run-up to the Games, the crease was the lone question on a roster stacked with headliners. Coach Jon Cooper extinguished any lingering doubt, handing Jordan Binnington the opener — a decision he said he was comfortable with long before puck drop. The St. Louis netminder rewarded that faith with a calm, technically sharp performance, swallowing pucks through traffic and controlling rebounds to deny early Czech pressure.
Binnington’s defining stop came late in the first period, when he sprawled to his left to rob David Kampf on a backdoor chance with 1: 53 remaining. The save preserved a scoreless opening frame and set the tone for a Canadian surge that followed. “It felt good, ” Binnington said afterward. “We knew they’d push. The guys boxed out, let me see pucks, and I was able to play my game. ”
Stars supply the finish, McDavid drives the engine
Canada’s forward depth overwhelmed Czechia in waves. Nathan MacKinnon ripped home one of the night’s five tallies, while Connor McDavid carved up the defensive structure with speed and vision, piling up three primary contributions. Sidney Crosby and defenseman Thomas Harley each chipped in two assists, underscoring how seamlessly Canada’s veterans and prime-age stars are clicking early.
Mark Stone and Bo Horvat powered the middle of the lineup with timely goals, and Nick Suzuki added late insurance. The production balanced across lines, letting Canada dictate matchups and pace. Czech goaltender Lukas Dostal battled to keep it respectable with 31 saves, but the sustained Canadian zone time and east-west passing eventually cracked the coverage.
Celebrini joins the party at 19
Macklin Celebrini, the 19-year-old phenom, wasted no time making an Olympic imprint, finding the net in his debut and looking comfortable alongside elite linemates. His poise down low and knack for soft ice were evident; his finish punctuated Canada’s surge and hinted at a larger role as the tournament unfolds. For a program that has routinely blended generational talents with trusted veterans, Celebrini’s seamless integration is a promising early sign.
Defensive detail matches offensive flair
While the scoreboard will spotlight the star power, Canada’s structure without the puck was just as impressive. The defense pairings closed gaps quickly through the neutral zone, forced perimeter looks, and cleared second-chance traffic. Forwards supported below the hashmarks and back-checked in layers, enabling Binnington to read plays and freeze the game when needed.
It was a game that featured the familiar hallmarks of championship-caliber Canada hockey: short shifts, clean exits, relentless puck retrieval, and an ability to tilt the ice for extended stretches. The penalty kill was tidy, and the bench management — rolling all four lines early — helped wear down Czechia’s top unit over 60 minutes.
What it means in Group A
Opening with a shutout offers Canada both points and proof of concept. The win sets an early Group A pace and, perhaps more crucially, quiets the only looming storyline: who owns the crease. With Binnington sharp and the skaters already in sync, Canada has a sturdy base to build on as opponents adjust to the NHL-laden roster and its tempo.
This is the first Olympic tournament with NHL participation since 2014, and the blend of resumed star power, youth infusion, and detailed structure is evident. Canada’s next Group A test arrives later this week (ET), and the blueprint from Game 1 — layered defense feeding a fast, creative attack — is one the group can replicate. If Wednesday’s balance holds, Canada enters the heart of the preliminary round with momentum, clarity in goal, and a deepening bench of difference-makers.
