Canada and Czechia opened with heavy physical play, featuring big hits from Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid and early agitation from Tom Wilson. MacKinnon appeared to score after a Nick Suzuki drop pass, but Suzuki's stick tangled a defender's feet and a penalty was called; Canada killed the penalty. Czechia showed lively Olympic-game energy and generated first-period chances. With five seconds remaining, Makar's point shot was redirected by Macklin Celebrini to give Canada a 1-0 lead. After 20 minutes shots were 11-11 and slot shots 5-5; Canada held slightly more zone time and pulled away in the second period.
"This game opened exactly how you'd like to see the first game of a big tournament start, with some physical engagement. It began in warmup with Tom Wilson's antics patrolling the center-ice line, and then it carried over to start the game. Two of Canada's best players, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, set the tone with two big hits - first, a MacKinnon reverse hit on Michael Kempny, and then McDavid absolutely lined up and destroyed Lukas Sedlak."
"MacKinnon walked right in on a drop pass by Nick Suzuki and rifled one in the top corner, but as MacKinnon was shooting, Suzuki's stick got caught in the defender's feet, accidentally tripping the Czech player. I don't think it impacted the goal sequence, but it was a penalty. Canada killed it off pretty easily, but the Czechs did have opportunities in the first; they came out with the type of energy you'd expect of anybody in their first Olympic games."
Read at Maple Leafs Hotstove
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]