Celebrini and Binnington Lead Canada to 5-0 Shutout Over Czechia in Olympic Opener

Macklin Celebrini scored the opening goal and Jordan Binnington made 26 saves as Canada defeated Czechia 5-0 in the NHL's return to the Olympics.

Canada opened its Olympic campaign with a 5-0 victory over Czechia on Thursday, marked by Macklin Celebrini scoring the nation’s first goal in the return of NHL players to the Games. Jordan Binnington anchored the shutout by stopping all 26 shots he faced, ensuring the tournament favorites started with a clean sheet. Celebrini, the youngest player on the roster at 19 years old, broke the scoreless tie by deflecting a Cale Makar shot past goaltender Lukas Dostal with only 5.7 seconds remaining in the first period. This initial strike followed a sequence where Binnington preserved the deadlock by denying Michal Kempny with a left-pad save and subsequently smothering a rebound attempt from David Kampf.

The offensive momentum for Canada Olympic hockey continued into the second period through clinical execution and transition play. Mitch Marner provided a saucer pass to Mark Stone, who converted to extend the lead. Later in the middle frame, Bo Horvat capitalized on a breakaway opportunity to make it 3-0, effectively removing Czechia from contention. Despite the scoreline, Dostal remained under heavy pressure throughout the contest as Canada’s skaters utilized their speed and physicality to control the pace. Head coach Jon Cooper noted that his squad became more controlled as the game progressed, overcoming the initial jitters associated with Olympic debuts for the vast majority of the roster.

Power Play Precision and McDavid’s Playmaking

Canada’s special teams flourished in the third period, highlighted by a tic-tac-toe power-play goal involving the team’s most decorated veterans and stars. Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid exchanged passes before Nathan MacKinnon finished the play on the back side to make it 4-0. MacKinnon credited his teammates for the setup, noting he had little work to do other than being in position. This specific trio previously combined for a similar goal during the opening game of the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago, where Canada defeated the United States in overtime.

Connor McDavid, a three-time NHL MVP, finished the game with three assists. His final helper came on a goal by Nick Suzuki, which brought the final score to 5-0. While McDavid expressed satisfaction with the result, he indicated that the team still has areas to improve upon as the tournament moves forward. Only Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty entered this competition with prior Olympic experience, having both won gold medals in 2010 and 2014. For the rest of the lineup, including McDavid, MacKinnon, and Binnington, this victory served as their first official impression on the Olympic stage.

Switzerland Dominates France in Group Play

In other Olympic action, Switzerland secured a 4-0 shutout against France to open their tournament. Timo Meier of the New Jersey Devils led the scoring with two goals in the third period, while 39-year-old goaltender Leonardo Genoni stopped 27 shots to earn the win. Switzerland established an early advantage just 55 seconds into the game when Damien Riat found the back of the net. The lead grew to 2-0 only three minutes later as J.J. Moser of the Tampa Bay Lightning scored, providing the Swiss with a comfortable cushion for the remainder of the match.

Switzerland outshot France 43-27, maintaining offensive pressure that Meier described as a "mature performance." Genoni, who was the MVP of the world championships last spring with a 0.99 goals-against average and a .953 save percentage, maintained his form to keep France off the board. This victory follows Switzerland's deep international run last year, which ended in a 1-0 overtime loss to the United States in the world championship final. The Swiss team now looks ahead to a high-stakes matchup against Canada scheduled for Friday.

Tactical Outlook and Upcoming Schedule

Canada’s victory establishes them as a well-oiled machine early in the group stage. The team’s ability to integrate young talent like Celebrini with established leaders like Crosby resulted in a balanced attack that Czechia could not contain. Binnington’s performance in net provided the necessary stability during the first period when the game was still tied 0-0. He noted that seeing the puck early allowed him to play his game against a Czechia lineup featuring several star players.

The upcoming schedule features the United States opening their Olympic bid against Latvia on Thursday night. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Nino Niederreiter expressed a desire to "poke the bear" in their Friday meeting with Canada, hoping to build on the momentum of their four-goal win over France. Canada enters that matchup with a goal differential of plus-five and a roster that coach Cooper believes is finding its rhythm after the initial excitement of the opening ceremonies and the return of NHL participation.