Team Canada delivered a resounding performance in its opening game of the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Playing with National Hockey League players for the first time since 2014, the gold-medal favourites defeated Czechia 5-0 in their preliminary-round opener on Thursday.
Macklin Celebrini, the youngest player in the tournament, scored the game-winning goal late in the first period, deftly deflecting a point shot from Cale Makar.
Mark Stone and Bo Horvat extended Canada’s lead in the second period, while Nathan MacKinnon added a power-play goal, assisted by Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.
Earlier in the first period, MacKinnon had a goal disallowed due to a hooking penalty called on Nick Suzuki.
Suzuki redeemed himself, scoring Canada’s fifth goal late in the third period.
McDavid showcased his skill, leading all players with three points in his Olympic debut.
Jordan Binnington was flawless in net, stopping all 26 shots he faced. Binnington previously won gold with Canada at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
Czechia’s Lukas Dostal made 31 saves on 36 shots against.
Canada will quickly return to action, facing Switzerland on Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET.
