In a resounding victory, Canada's men's hockey team triumphed over France with a score of 10-2 during the preliminary round of the Milan Cortina Olympics. Key players such as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, and Mark Stone each contributed significant performances, scoring a goal and providing two assists. Macklin Celebrini also shone in the match, netting two goals and adding an assist, alongside contributions from several other players including Cale Makar and Tom Wilson, who both scored and assisted. This win solidifies Canada's position with a perfect preliminary record of 3-0-0-0, awaiting their quarterfinal matchup after the upcoming qualification playoff.

The game also saw some intense moments, including an ejection of Tom Wilson following a fight with French player Pierre Crinon. The altercation was prompted by Crinon hitting Nathan MacKinnon, demonstrating the physical nature of competition in Olympic hockey. Canada's goaltender, Jordan Binnington, was required to make only 11 saves throughout the contest, reflecting the team's dominance over their opponents.

Connor McDavid's impressive performance continues to draw attention as he accumulates nine points over nine periods, marking an impactful Olympic debut. His scoring potential places him just two points shy of tying the tournament record for points in competitions featuring NHL players, a benchmark held by Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu since the 2006 Turin Olympics. As the Canadian team moves forward in the tournament, their exceptional preliminary performance sets high expectations for their pursuit of gold.