Olympic Hockey: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon lead Canada’s rout of Switzerland
A collection of talent that includes Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon can often feel unfair, and the NHL’s leading scorers put on a clinic Friday afternoon.
McDavid and MacKinnon both finished with three points, leading
Canada to a 5-1 victory over
Switzerland. The pair connected for the game’s opening goal, when MacKinnon found McDavid with a perfect pass, and the Edmonton Oilers captain made no mistake on the power play. McDavid was the most dominant player on the ice for the second consecutive night, and set up Thomas Harley off the rush for an insurance goal later in the first frame.
Pius Suter cut into Canada’s lead on the power play, after Bo Horvat was called for high-sticking. It was all the offence that Switzerland could generate against a loaded Canadian team that rolled four lines with ease.
Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal of the tournament, depositing a quick backhand feed from MacKinnon to extend Canada’s lead to 3-1, four minutes and 14 seconds into the second period. Sidney Crosby added to the lead, deflecting a pass from Mitch Marner, while Mark Stone occupied J.J. Moser in front of the net.
And the story of the game effectively wrote itself, as MacKinnon tacked on another goal 13 minutes into the final frame, assisted by McDavid. MacKinnon was bumped up to the first line alongside Celebrini and McDavid, while Tom Wilson took shifts with Brandon Hagel and Nick Suzuki.
Logan Thompson was stellar when called upon for Canada, but it almost certainly appears that Jordan Binnington will start in goal for the remainder of the tournament.
Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala was taken off the ice on a stretcher with just under three minutes remaining in the third period. Fiala accidentally collided with Tom Wilson and crumpled to the ice.
In other Group A action, Czechia defeated France 6-3. During the early slate, Finland defeated Sweden 4-1, while Slovakia toppled Italy 3-2.
Canada resumes preliminary action against France on Sunday afternoon, sitting atop the group.
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