Olympic Hockey: Canada’s Youthful Nerves Fade Fast in Opening Win, While Switzerland Looms as Legitimate Test
For all the star power on Canada’s Olympic men’s hockey team, it was the nerves that stole the show early on. With 20 Olympic rookies making their debut, the bright lights and five-ringed stage were impossible to ignore-even for some of the NHL’s biggest names.
“I was nervous,” Nathan MacKinnon admitted after the game. “The Olympics are huge.
I usually sleep before games, and I couldn’t. We’re good at what we do, but we feel like kids at this tournament.”
That sentiment wasn’t just lip service. The first period had the look of a group trying to settle into the moment. But once the jitters faded, Canada found its rhythm-and its scoring touch.
It was 17-year-old Macklin Celebrini, the youngest player on the roster, who broke the ice with a late first-period goal. A fitting way to start the tournament for a team that’s blending generational talent with youthful energy. From there, the Canadians took over.
McDavid Makes a Statement
Connor McDavid wasted no time making his presence felt. On his very first shift, he delivered a thunderous hit that had even Brad Marchand mistaking the culprit for Tom Wilson.
It wasn’t. It was McDavid setting the tone.
And he wasn’t done there. The Canadian captain finished with three assists, tying a national Olympic record for most in a single game by an NHL player. He was everywhere-controlling the pace, creating space, and reminding everyone that he’s the engine of this team.
Depth on Display
Canada’s depth was on full display, with three of the four lines finding the back of the net. MacKinnon’s line thought they had one too, but a tripping penalty on Nick Suzuki wiped the goal off the board. Still, the message was clear: this team can roll four lines and come at you in waves.
Head coach Jon Cooper made a point to get all 13 forwards involved. Sam Bennett logged just over seven minutes, while the so-called “fourth line” averaged just under 10.
Thomas Harley was the only skater to crack the 20-minute mark, but even in a lopsided game, McDavid led all forwards in ice time. That’s a trend that’s likely to continue once the stakes get higher and the games get tighter.
For now, though, Cooper was able to manage minutes, let the roster settle in, and allow players to play through the adrenaline of their Olympic debut.
Eyes on Switzerland
Next up is Switzerland, who opened their tournament with a 4-0 win over France. It was a dominant performance, as expected, with the Swiss NHL contingent-Roman Josi, Kevin Fiala, Timo Meier, Nino Niederreiter, and Nico Hischier-leading the charge.
Josi has been vocal about the team’s shift in philosophy. In past tournaments, Switzerland leaned heavily on a defensive-first approach.
Not this time. They’re looking to attack, and with the offensive talent they’ve assembled, it’s not just talk.
While they can’t match Canada’s four-line firepower, Switzerland arguably boasts more offensive depth than Czechia, especially with Josi quarterbacking from the blue line. They’re not here to play spoiler-they're here to compete.
Canada remains the favorite, but this won’t be a game they can take lightly. The Swiss have medaled in back-to-back World Championships and are coming in with confidence and structure. And with goal differential factoring into seeding, don’t expect Canada to ease off the gas if they get an early lead.
Olympic History Between the Two
Canada and Switzerland have met three times in Olympic play. The Swiss stunned Canada 2-0 in 2006 behind a 49-save masterpiece from Martin Gerber. In 2010, it took a shootout for Canada to escape with a 3-2 win, while in 2018-without NHL players-Canada cruised to a 5-1 victory.
That 2010 shootout is still one of the more memorable Olympic moments. Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, and Ryan Getzlaf were all denied on their first attempts.
Marty Brodeur stood tall against the Swiss shooters, and when the shootout went to extra rounds, Crosby got another shot-and buried it. Brodeur sealed it with another save, and Canada exhaled.
With NHL players back in the mix, history suggests this matchup could be tighter than the rosters might suggest.
Defensive Dominance
Canada’s goaltending has been lights out in recent Olympic play. Including yesterday’s shutout by Jordan Binnington, they’ve now gone 224 minutes and 19 seconds without allowing a goal in Olympic action with NHL players. The last one came from Latvia’s Lauris Darzins in the 2014 quarterfinals.
Carey Price was the man behind the crease in 2014, blanking the U.S. 1-0 in the semis and Sweden 3-0 in the gold medal game. Now Binnington is keeping that tradition alive, backed by a rock-solid defense corps led by Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey (who left yesterday’s game with an injury), and Drew Doughty.
Lineup Notes
Here’s how Canada lined up in their opener:
Forwards:
- Celebrini - McDavid - Wilson
- Hagel - MacKinnon - Reinhart
- Marner - Crosby - Stone
- Marchand - Horvat - Suzuki
- Jarvis (extra forward)
Defense:
- Toews - Makar
- Theodore - Parayko
- Harley - Doughty
- Sanheim (extra)
Goalie:
- Thompson
With Morrissey banged up, expect Travis Sanheim to draw in. Seth Jarvis could also get a look as Cooper continues to rotate and evaluate. Logan Thompson is likely to get the start in net.
Switzerland’s Expected Lineup:
Forwards:
- Fiala - Hischier - Thürkauf
- Andrighetto - Malgin - Niederreiter
- Kurashev - Suter - Meier
- Riat - Jäger - Bertschy
Defense:
- Josi - Glauser
- Siegenthaler - Kukan
- Moser - Fora
- Marti (extra)
Goalie:
- Akira Schmid (expected starter)
Schmid sat out the opener against France, with Leonardo Genoni getting the nod. That felt like a strategic move to keep Schmid fresh for Canada. If Switzerland has any hope of pulling off the upset, they’ll need Schmid to be spectacular.
Around the Rink
- Connor McDavid’s three assists tied a Team Canada Olympic record for NHL players, joining Patrick Marleau (2014), Sidney Crosby (2010), and Eric Staal (2010). Only Latvian defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh has recorded more in a single Olympic game with NHL participation (four in 2002).
- Macklin Celebrini, at just 17, became the first teenager to score a game-winning goal in an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players.
- Canada’s shutout streak now spans three straight games with NHL players: yesterday vs. Czechia, and the 2014 semifinal and final.
- Josh Samanski, skating alongside Leon Draisaitl for Germany, played over 21 minutes in their 3-1 win over Denmark. The Oilers prospect is getting valuable experience, and if he continues to impress, he could be a depth option down the stretch back in the NHL.
What’s Next
Canada’s early nerves are out of the way, and the team looked more comfortable as the game wore on. With McDavid and MacKinnon leading the charge, and a deep, balanced roster behind them, they’re locked in on winning their group and securing the No. 1 seed.
Switzerland presents a different kind of challenge-structured, skilled, and capable of making you pay if you’re not sharp. But Canada looks ready. And if they keep trending upward, the rest of the tournament better take notice.