Mark Stone’s confession after Canada thrashed the Czech Republic 5-0
Team Canada defeated the Czech Republic 5-0 in the first game of the men’s ice hockey tournament at the Olympics. After winning last year’s 4 Nations showdown, it did Gold medal or bust for Canadians. With those expectations on the Olympic stage, Canada moves forward Mark Stone he says he was nervous before the game.
“Of course I was nervous. I think everybody was. Except maybe Sid and Dewey. Nervous just means you care,” Stone told Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. Stone says the only Canadians with Olympic experience, Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty, weren’t nervous.
Crosby and Doughty were part of Canada’s gold medal teams in 2010 and 2014, the last two Olympics with NHL players. Now that the pros are back at the Games, Canada is looking for its fourth gold since 2002.
Stone scored for Canada to take a 2-0 lead early in the second period. They dominated in the first period, but could not score McLean Celebrini broke the tie with six seconds left. But they did not allow the Czech Republic to hang around for long, and Stone and Bo Horvath scored in the second period.
Canada is expected to win the round and advance to the quarterfinals at the Olympics. They continue the tournament on Friday against Switzerland, and finish against France on Sunday. Canada has an elite group of forwards at the top of their lineup, which should make it easier for them to sled in these games.
But when it comes to tougher matches in the elimination round, goaltending will become a question. Jordan Binnington has been brutal for the St. Louis Blues this year, but he was able to beat the Czech Republic in his Olympic debut. He earned the net after leading them to victory in the 4 Nations last year. And he is unlikely to relinquish his starting position after Thursday’s dominance.
2026-02-13 14:05:00
