With a perfect 3-0-0-0 record and a tournament-best +17 goal differential, Canada has officially locked up the No. 1 overall seed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. That top spot earns them a direct pass to the quarterfinals, giving the roster a much-needed break while the rest of the field battles it out in the …
With a perfect 3-0-0-0 record and a tournament-best +17 goal differential, Canada has officially locked up the No. 1 overall seed at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. That top spot earns them a direct pass to the quarterfinals, giving the roster a much-needed break while the rest of the field battles it out in the qualification round.
Here is the breakdown of how Canada dismantled Group A and what lies ahead.
Canada started the tournament with a clinical defensive performance. After a tight first period, Macklin Celebrini blew the game open by scoring his first Olympic goal with just five seconds left on the clock.
The Swiss are never an easy out, but head coach Jon Cooper decided to hit the “nuclear button” by pairing McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Celebrini on the same line. The results were immediate and terrifying for the opposition.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a celebration. Nine different Canadians found the back of the net as the team flexed its unmatched depth.
Sidney Crosby is still finding ways to rewrite history at 38. With a goal and two helpers against France, he hit 16 career Olympic points. That officially moves him past Jarome Iginla for the most Olympic points by a Canadian in the NHL era. It’s only fitting that the guy who scored the “Golden Goal” is now the statistical king of Canadian Olympic hockey.
If anyone thought the bigger international ice would slow Connor McDavid down, they were dead wrong. He’s leading the tournament with 9 points (2G, 7A). He’s not just playing fast; he’s thinking three moves ahead of everyone else on the ice. McDavid has also beaten the record for most points by a Canadian in a tournament. League of his own.
The kid belongs. 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini made history against France, becoming the first NHLer to score on a penalty shot in Olympic play. The way he’s vibing with the veterans makes it look like he’s been on this stage for a decade. It is absolutely unreal to watch him, and I really do think the Canadian talent is going to be so, so good for years to come.
By finishing as the top seed, Canada avoids the “win-or-go-home” stress of the Tuesday qualification games. They won’t return to the ice until Wednesday, February 18, at 10:40 AM ET.
Canada will face the winner of the Czechia (8th seed) vs. Denmark (9th seed) matchup.
The two-day break is gold for the medical staff. Brad Marchand has been nursing a minor injury, and defenseman Josh Morrissey has been out since Game 1. This window gives both a legitimate shot at being 100% for the knockout stage.
The offence is humming, the goaltending is elite (a combined .954 save percentage), and the team is clearly playing for one another. The preliminary round was a masterpiece, but in the Olympics, the only thing people remember is the colour of the medal. Canada is currently the heavy favourite to make sure that colour is gold, but everyone knows there’s a lot of hockey to be played, and it will not be a piece of cake.
Really excited for it. It’s honestly some of the best hockey you could watch. We know the United States is going to be a task, but Canada’s got to just get there first and see what happens. Go canada baby. Also, I am hoping for every other Canadian athlete in these Olympics. Go Canada.
