"As the game went on, everybody started getting used to each other. We did enough early to push them. Binnington made a couple of good saves, and once we got our feet underneath us, we fazed them out of the game. The guys started getting used to each other and making plays. Our speed, physicality, and skill took over. It was great. It was a lot of fun. We have one under our belt, and we have to keep getting used to each other and building (against Switzerland). Hopefully, we get better and better."
"He flies in practice, too. Whenever you are out there with him, your brain has to be working fast. We could've had two or three goalies by the end. We started playing well as a line. We'll just keep building on it. We're starting to click a little. You could see stuff developing."
"I am happy for him. He is always smiling and is such a great kid. The first time I met him, he had that swagger. He had that attitude. You could tell he was going to be a pro for a long time and a great for a long time. It is fun to go out there with him. I was pumped for him getting his first goal. Hopefully, it's the first of many throughout a great career."
Team Canada earned an opening win by applying early pressure, receiving timely saves from Binnington, and gradually finding on-ice chemistry. Players adjusted to each other during the game, allowing speed, physicality, and skill to take over as the match progressed. The lineup showed developing cohesion and growing offensive and defensive connections. Macklin Celebrini scored the tournament's first goal and displayed confidence and pro-level attributes. Connor McDavid treated his first Olympic game as an opportunity to get into the match early and to help the line click and develop further heading into the next contest.
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