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McDavid and Celebrini Shine in Canada's Olympic Victory
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- McDavid and Celebrini Shine in Canada's Olympic Victory
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Team Canada took to the ice on Friday afternoon, with Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki taking part in his second career game at the Winter Olympics.
Suzuki was once again used on the second line, alongside Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon , as well as Tampa Bay Lightning winger Brandon Hagel . However, as the game went on, Suzuki ended up playing in a more defensive role, centring Hagel and Washginton Capitals forward Tom Wilson.
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The Swiss put up a fight, but Canada was firing on all cylinders, emerging with a well-deserved 5-1 win.
( N.B.Due to Olympic rights, some highlights may not be available in your country. If you're interested in seeing highlights in the United States, the NBC Olympics account is your best bet.)
Setting The Tone
Team Canada got off to an excellent start, culminating in a powerplay goal from one of the best players on the planet, Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid .
Believe it or not, it was the first Olympic goal for the 29-year-old speed demon, a reminder that we've been robbed of a few best-on-best tournaments in recent Winter Olympic games.
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It's also quite apparent that McDavid is laser focused on bringing home a gold medal, as evidenced by his uptick in physical play versus the Swiss.
(To view the highlight in the United States, please click on this link. )
Canada would go on to double their lead shortly afterward, as McDavid set up Dallas Stars defenceman Thomas Harley with a good scoring chance, and the blueliner made no mistake, finding the back of the net with a perfectly placed shot.
Swiss Press
Those who have not followed international hockey in recent years may dismiss Switzerland as a team that's relatively easy to beat, but that could not be further from the truth.
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They're a top-ranked country, and they tend to punch well above their weight in international tournaments. In fact, heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics, Switzerland was the No.2 ranked country.
That's why it was no surprise that they immediately responded to Canada's strong start, scoring their own powerplay goal midway through the second period to cut the lead to 2-1.
Age Does Not Dictate Talent
The youngest player in the Canadian lineup once again provided ample evidence to suggest youth does not prevent a player from performing on the biggest stage.
19-year-old Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal in as many games, taking advantage of yet another nice setup by MacKinnon.
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It's important to remember the Olympics are usually reserved for veterans, regardless of their talent level. It doesn't make much sense, but we all know seniority reigns supreme in a sports setting. Sidney Crosby wasn't even part of the Canadian Olympic team during his rookie season, back in 2006. For the record, Canada failed to medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics. They would be wise to remember the lesson moving forward.
Celebrini clearly deserves his spot among the best hockey players in the world.
Speaking of the best hockey players in the world, Crosby continues to be a dominant presence at 38 years old, which is the sports equivalent of having Methuselah in your lineup.
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He scored a great goal to give Canada a 4-1 lead, though it's fair to say the scoreline did not properly reflect the Swiss performance. Switzerland played well, but they simply did not have the talent available to match up with a powerhouse such as Canada.
Canada's top players, McDavid, MacKinnon, and Celebrini, then put the game out of reach for the Swiss. McDavid did a great job creating time and space in the offensive zone, which MacKinnon capitalized on the chaos to register his third point of the night.
Team Canada will be back in action on Sunday, facing Alex Texier and Team France.
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