Canada routs France 10-2 to finish Olympic preliminary round unbeaten
Canada overwhelmed France 10-2 on Sunday to close the Olympic preliminary round with three straight wins and a dominant goal differential that could prove decisive in tiebreaker scenarios. The victory was equal parts firepower and margin management as Canada continued to build momentum heading into the elimination rounds.
Offensive onslaught and tiebreaker stakes
The Canadians opened the scoring early and never relented, piling up goals from their top stars and depth forwards alike. Macklin Celebrini finished with four goals in the game, pushing his tournament total to a team-high mark. Connor McDavid — who set up and finished pivotal plays throughout the contest — converted a third-period backhand 20 seconds in to make it 7-1, underscoring Canada’s relentless push for goals.
Canada outshot France 33-7 by the end of the second period and wound up with 20 goals across the preliminary round and a +17 differential. That scoring surge carried strategic weight: first place in the group could come down to goal differential against the United States, and piling up goals was a clear priority late in the preliminary stage to secure the most favorable path into the playoff bracket.
France battled but lacked depth; game turned physical
France showed grit in spells but was overwhelmed by the sheer depth and pace of its opponent. Veteran French netminder Clément Junca made several eye-catching saves early, including a goalmouth stop that prevented an open-net finish in the second period, but was replaced by Antoine Keller before the third as Canada continued to flood the net.
French captain Pierre-Edouard Bellemare was candid about the gulf in talent, noting that Canada’s roster is stacked with NHL-calibre talent and that France’s objective in the tournament is not measured by medals but by earning respect through effort. "Their worst player is going to be better than our top player, " Bellemare said, while also stressing that France would try to match competitors in heart and work rate. The visitors briefly answered in the third when Sacha Treille beat Jordan Binnington to make it 7-2, but Canada’s depth stretched too far for France to close the gap.
The contest grew physical late. Tensions boiled over when a French player attempted to square off with Tom Wilson following a high hit on Nathan MacKinnon, signaling that frustration had set in as the scoreboard widened.
What comes next
Canada’s undefeated preliminary showing finishes with momentum, a healthy goal differential and top-end players finding consistent production. Whichever team secures top spot in the group will likely draw a more favorable quarterfinal matchup, so the margin of victory matters as much as the wins themselves.
For France, the tournament continues to be a lesson in competing against the sport’s elite: takeaways include encouragement about compete level and the reminder that roster depth ultimately decides results at this stage. Both teams will regroup and turn their attention to the knockout phase, where tactical adjustments and discipline will determine which nations can parlay preliminary form into Olympic success.
