Canada vs. France live score, updates: Wilson, Douay, Toews trade goals in Winter Olympics 2026 men’s hockey game
Tom Wilson opened the scoring early for Canada, only for Floran Douay to tie the game 13 seconds later. Devon Toews then put Canada back ahead less than a minute after that in a frenetic start to the preliminary finale at Santagiulia Arena (10: 40 a. m. ET).
First-period fireworks: rapid responses and heavy pressure
The first period set a brisk tone. Canada struck first on a finish by Wilson that showcased the physical and opportunistic brand it has leaned on through the tournament. France answered almost immediately when Douay picked his spot and beat the Canadian netminder to level the score, demonstrating the visitors’ willingness to seize momentum when it appears.
Canada’s response was swift. A crisp feed from Sidney Crosby found Devon Toews at the point, and Toews redirected home to restore the lead. The back-and-forth sequence left both benches reminded that even in a mismatch on paper, lapses and individual moments can swing an Olympic game.
Canada piled up zone time in stretches, with Cale Makar and Toews firing from the point and Mitch Marner attempting to spark a high-tempo partnership with Mark Stone. The Stone–Marner connection created movement but not an immediate payoff on one notable rush; Stone wasn’t able to get a clean finish on a chance that was eventually smothered by a scrambling French defense.
France’s goaltender, Junca, was busy early, making several traffic saves and smothering pucks when they ricocheted off the boards. One Devon Toews rebound attempt looked destined for the net until Junca closed the five-hole and held the puck, buying a rare breather for the underdog squad.
Physical moments, penalties and the French mindset
Canada’s Travis Sanheim took a holding penalty in the first, handing France its first power play. It was the reminder France needed that discipline and structure would be crucial if they hoped to make this a tough game. The French crowd answered the fast pace with chants of "Allez Les Bleus!" filling pockets of the arena, providing a visible and vocal presence in support of their team.
France’s captain, Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, framed the challenge bluntly before the match: the talent gap is wide, and France signed up for this tournament to earn respect more than to chase medals. That message has underpinned the team’s approach — play with energy, work hard on the forecheck, and make Canada earn every inch.
Even in defeat in earlier games, France showed flashes of resilience: they hung in against Switzerland and staged an early comeback scare against Czechia. Those efforts have carried into this matchup, where heart and legs have been emphasized as the equalizer against Canada’s star-laden roster.
What to watch next in the preliminary finale
Canada has used depth and NHL-level cohesion to dominate possession and generate high-danger looks; Connor McDavid’s playmaking continues to be a central driver. McDavid’s assist on Wilson’s marker edged him ahead in the tournament scoring race, giving him seven points and underscoring Canada’s offensive engine.
For France, the plan remains straightforward: keep the game tight, capitalize on special teams chances, and keep pace on back-to-back shifts to force turnovers. Discipline will be vital — taking penalties against Canada risks giving the world’s top players time and space to tilt the scoreboard quickly.
As this preliminary-round finale unfolds at Santagiulia Arena, Canada is expected to press for control while France aims to make the contest a hard, physical test. The early chapters have been tense and action-packed; the rest of the game will show whether the visiting side can sustain that bite or whether Canada’s depth will eventually pull away.
