Macklin Celebrini scored Canada's first goal in their Olympic return, helping the tournament favorite defeat Czechia 5-0 on Thursday. The 19-year-old youngest player on the roster deflected a Cale Makar shot with 5.7 seconds left in the first period, capping an intense opening frame. Jordan Binnington stopped all 26 shots he faced, showcasing Canada's depth and skill.

Canada's offensive firepower proved too much for Czechia to handle. Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon connected on a power-play goal in the third period, replicating their chemistry from last year's 4 Nations Face-Off. Mitch Marner's saucer pass to Mark Stone and Bo Horvat's breakaway goal in the second period effectively ended the game early. McDavid added three assists, including one on Nick Suzuki's goal that made it 5-0.

Meanwhile, Switzerland made a statement in their Olympic opener, shutting out France 4-0. Timo Meier scored twice in the third period, while 39-year-old goaltender Leonardo Genoni stopped all 27 shots. J.J. Moser and Damien Riat scored early goals to establish control. With a deep roster featuring NHL talent and momentum from last spring's world championships run, Switzerland looks poised to challenge Canada when they meet Friday.