Canada Rolls into Olympic Quarterfinals, Dismantles France 10-2
MILAN – Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and the Canadian men’s hockey team continued their dominant run through the Olympic round-robin stage on Sunday, defeating France 10-2 in a decisive victory that secures their place in the quarterfinals as the tournament’s top seed. The win puts Canada in a strong position as they pursue a third consecutive Olympic gold medal.
Crosby and McDavid each tallied a goal and two assists in a clinical performance, leading a Canadian offense that outshot France 46-13. “We did what we came to do,” McDavid said, adding, “We came to win a hockey game and continue to get better.”
The game wasn’t without its physical edge. Tom Wilson engaged in a fight after a forearm to the face delivered to Nathan MacKinnon. MacKinnon returned to the game, while Wilson was ejected under international rules, which consider fighting a game misconduct. Forward Sam Bennett emphasized Wilson’s role on the team, stating, “He’s going to stick up for his guys. He’s a leader on this team and he’s a guy that’s going to protect our guys and do whatever it takes for our team.”
Canada finished the round-robin undefeated, having outscored their opponents by a total of 17 goals over three games. The team’s offensive firepower has been a key factor in their success, with McDavid currently leading all scorers in Milan with nine points in his first nine periods at the Olympics. Crosby, at 38, continues to impress, seeking his third Olympic gold medal.
“Sid’s playing great,” McDavid said. “Everybody’s playing really, really well. The team’s playing well. We’re in a good place right now.”
Macklin Celebrini, Canada’s youngest player at 19, also contributed with two goals – one on a penalty shot and another on the power play – bringing his tournament total to four goals in three games. Mark Stone scored a shorthanded goal and added two assists, while Brandon Hagel also found the back of the net for Canada.
Jordan Binnington, Canada’s goaltender, faced limited pressure but allowed one goal he might want back. He is expected to start in Wednesday’s quarterfinal, likely against either Czechia or Germany.
Switzerland Secures Quarterfinal Path with Overtime Win
In other Olympic action on Sunday, Switzerland defeated Czechia 4-3 in overtime, securing a favorable path to the quarterfinals. The Swiss team rallied around the absence of injured winger Kevin Fiala, who underwent surgery for a lower left leg injury. Fiala sent a video message to his teammates from the hospital, and coach Patrick Fischer hopes he will be back at the athletes’ village on Monday.
Roman Josi, captain of the Swiss team and a defenseman for the Nashville Predators, scored the opening goal for Switzerland. Dean Kukan scored the overtime winner, describing how he had initially considered passing before finding space to shoot. Timo Meier of the New Jersey Devils and Pius Suter of the St. Louis Blues also scored for Switzerland, while Leonardo Genoni stopped 29 of 32 shots in goal.
The U.S. Faces a challenging task to overtake Canada for the No. 1 seed. They must defeat Germany by a margin of 10 or more goals on Sunday night. Any win by a smaller margin would place them second and on a collision course with seventh-seeded Sweden in the quarterfinals. An unexpected regulation loss could significantly alter the standings.
Sweden presents a formidable challenge, but Canada has demonstrated the skill, size, and finishing ability to overcome any opponent in Milan.
