Canada overwhelms France 10-2 in men’s Olympic hockey; Celebrini leads charge
win to close out preliminary play, Canada crushed France 10-2 in men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, showcasing depth, starpower and a roster that looks dangerous heading into the knockout rounds. Nine different Canadians found the back of the net and the victory sends Canada to the quarterfinals on Wednesday (ET).
One-night offensive eruption: nine scorers, two from Celebrini
Canada’s balanced attack produced a torrent of goals, with Macklin Celebrini scoring twice — his first coming on a penalty shot — and eight teammates chipping in with single tallies. Tom Wilson, Devon Toews, Mark Stone, Cale Makar, Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Bo Horvat and Brandon Hagel also scored. Stone’s marker came while Canada was shorthanded, underscoring the team’s all-situation effectiveness.
France managed to get on the board through Floran Douay and Sacha Treille, but the visitors were outmanned and outmatched for much of the night. With Canada’s scoring spread across the lineup, the game felt like a preview of what a healthy, firing Canadian team could do in single-elimination play.
Incidents, discipline and roster notes ahead of elimination rounds
The game featured a mid-match scrap involving Tom Wilson. The incident will not carry an automatic suspension under the existing disciplinary rules, and officials overseeing international and professional cooperation chose not to impose further discipline. That clears Wilson to return to action without additional penalty, leaving him free to celebrate what some characterized as a Gordie Howe hat trick for his night.
Coach Jon Cooper confirmed that veteran forward Brad Marchand, who sat out recent contests, will dress for Canada’s quarterfinal on Wednesday (ET). That bolsters an already stacked Canadian lineup and gives the coaching staff more options in a win-or-go-home format where experience and physicality matter.
Net goal differential will not affect Canada’s next match since the team advances into the seeded elimination bracket. Still, the 10-goal performance provided a confidence boost and allowed younger players to soak in high-pressure minutes while veterans conserved energy for the tougher tests ahead.
France’s challenge and a veteran’s perspective from the village
France’s slate will not end there; the team heads into the play-off round on Tuesday (ET) with an opportunity to keep its tournament alive. Alexandre Texier, the French squad’s lone player with regular-season experience in North America’s top professional league, acknowledged the uphill climb but emphasized the value of the Olympic experience. He described the athletes’ village as a unique environment where competitors trade pins, mingle across sports and soak up the once-every-four-years atmosphere.
Players and coaches from both camps offered praise where it was due. Teammate comments highlighted Celebrini’s maturity and composure at 19, noting that the young forward handled pressure-packed moments like someone well beyond his years. After the game, Nathan MacKinnon quipped that the team was “definitely happy to score 10, and hopefully we can score 10 next game too, ” a lighthearted line that foreshadows the group’s appetite for offense as the knockout phase approaches.
With Canada moving on to a quarterfinal matchup on Wednesday (ET) and France fighting to extend its tournament on Tuesday (ET), the men’s Olympic hockey competition shifts from preliminary form to single-elimination intensity. For Canada, the challenge will be to convert this offensive momentum into postseason consistency; for France, it’s about regrouping quickly and finding a path to an upset.
