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Griffin Missant
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Canada beat Switzerland 5–1 in their Men’s Olympic hockey preliminary round, and the Swiss also lost one of their key forwards.
Canada controlled the game tempo, outshooting Switzerland 27–16 in the first two periods, earning their second victory of the tournament.
The game took a downturn when Swiss star Kevin Fiala suffered a serious lower-leg injury and was stretchered off the ice with just 2:50 left in the third period, casting a shadow over the event.
Fiala was involved in a puck battle with Canadian forward Tom Wilson along the boards. When they fell, their legs tangled, and Wilson landed on Fiala’s leg, twisting it. Fiala couldn’t bear weight and pointed to his skate, visibly distressed. After a delay, medical staff stretchered him off as players from both sides acknowledged with stick taps.
Losing Fiala, a key offensive player for Switzerland, is a setback ahead of the crucial February 15 match against Czechia for second place in Group A.
This victory places Canada at the top of Group A, though there is still progress to be made. Canada has already secured a win against Czechia and is heavily favored to beat France on Sunday. For Switzerland to win Group A, they needed to pull off an upset.
The Sporting News tracked live updates and highlights from Friday’s Olympic men’s hockey game between Canada and Switzerland.
MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule
5:31 p.m.: Kevin Fiala threw a reverse hit on Tom Wilson. Fiala took the worst of it, and he is now hurt.
5:24 p.m.: GOAL! McDavid once again makes plays on the ice as he sets up McKinnon for another goal. Canada has officially blown the doors off this game.
5:22 p.m.: Canada was able to kill off the man advantage and got the best look of the power play at that.
5:21 p.m.: Mark Stone broke away for a potential short-handed goal but was stonewalled by Akira Schmid.
5:20 p.m.: Macklin Celebrini takes down J.J. Moser with a trip. The Swiss will look to close this 3 goal gap with their power play.
5:13 p.m.: GOAL! The Canadian captain, Sidney Crosby, delivers once again for his country. Mitch Marner throws a puck in front of the net, and Crosby was able to get a piece of the shot. Canada is leading 4-1 over the Swiss.
5:10 p.m.: Both nations have started the third period with plenty of scoring opportunities, but the goalies (and post) have held strong. The Swiss have two goals to make up in 13 minutes.
5:02 p.m.: The beginning of the third period starts now.
4:44 p.m.: Both nations had opportunities to play power politics that they failed to capitalize on. Canada was able to add a goal to their lead. The Swiss had a two-on-one late in the period, but an unreal save was made by Logan Thompson. Switzerland managed only five shots on goal in the second period.
4:40 p.m.: The best chance for the Canadians on the man advantage was a one-timer by Cale Makar, which Akira Schmid stopped. Followed by Macklin Celebrini drilling the post on an unbelievably great chance.
4:37 p.m.: Canada will get yet another chance to send out its third dangerous power-play unit. Travis Sanheim got caught up high from a hit by Nino Niederreiter.
4:19 p.m.: The Swiss manage to shut down the Canadian monstrous power play and keep the game within 2 goals.
4:17 p.m.: Mark Stone caught a stick-up high by Michael Fora. Canada will now get their second man advantage of the game and will look to extend their lead further.
4:15 p.m.: GOAL! Macklin Celebrini, the talented young player, scores a one-timer set up by Nathan MacKinnon. Canada increases their lead as the teenager nets his second goal of the Olympics.
4:12 p.m.: While the Swiss did manage to threaten Canada on their man advantage, they were unable to capitalize on their power play.
4:10 p.m.: Switzerland will go on its second power play and look to tie this game. Shea Theodore took down Nino Niederreiter; now, the Swiss will have a man advantage.
4:09 p.m.: The start of the second period has begun.
3:50 p.m.: It was all Canada early in the period, but Switzerland stayed afloat and got back within one on the power play.
3:35 p.m.: GOAL! Pius Suter was in the right place at the right time. After Thompson could not hold on to a save, the puck bounced off the crossbar, and Suter was in prime position to tap in the rebound.
3:30 p.m.: Four seconds after Canada’s second goal, Switzerland will have a chance on the power play, as Bo Horvat was sent to the penalty box for a high stick during the face-off.
3:28 p.m.: GOAL! After a remarkable feed by McDavid, Thomas Harley was able to bury the second goal of the game for Canada.
🚨 GOAL! / BUT! Thomas Harley!
🇨🇦 2-0 🇨🇭#MilanoCortina2026 | @OHFHockey | @DallasStars pic.twitter.com/xSWcW6zePo
3:21 p.m.: Akira Schmid denies captain Sidney Crosby and keeps the deficit within one.
3:20 p.m.: GOAL! Who else but Connor McDavid to bury the opening goal of the game? Nathan MacKinnon was credited with the assist on the power play goal.
CONNOR MCDAVID SCORES HIS FIRST OLYMPIC GOAL 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/9rAVLE1GdI
3:18 p.m.: To prevent a Sam Bennett breakaway, Dean Kukan committed a tripping penalty. Team Canada will get the first man advantage of the game and send out their impressive unit.
3:15 p.m.: Both nations had excellent scoring opportunities within the first 4 minutes, but neither team capitalized. Team Canada owes Logan Thompson, whereas Switzerland can thank the post.
2:38 p.m.: Switzerland out on the ice ahead of their duel with Team Canada.
Hockey players are best creatures of habit. Switzerland is four minutes into their warmup already before Canada takes the ice because, well, #NHL warmups are only 16 minutes long. Never change. 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/t04ICKo90p
2:15 p.m.: The lineup for Team Canada for their clash with Switzerland.
TGIF. 🇨🇦
Duel du vendredi. 🇨🇦#MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/5s4wWgwb99
2:08 p.m.: Wherever Macklin Celebrini ventures, success invariably accompanies the young talent.
Will the #StanleyCup Playoffs be next for Macklin Celebrini if the @SanJoseSharks get in? 👀
(H/T: @CurtisPashelka)
📺: Canada vs. Switzerland at the #MilanoCortina2026 #WinterOlympics TODAY at 3:10p ET on @peacock, @cbcsports, & @cbcgem! pic.twitter.com/tzbxBRylhG
MORE: Canada Olympic hockey schedule, results for 2026
Canada will try to follow its dominant opener when the puck drops at 3:10 p.m. ET on Friday from the Milano Santagiulia IHO arena.
Friday’s game between Canada and Switzerland will air on CBC in Canada, but it will not air on cable in the United States. Viewers in the U.S. can watch the game on Peacock, while Canadian viewers can stream it on CBC Gem.
Griffin Missant joined The Sporting News in 2025 as a fantasy football intern. He graduated from Grand Valley State University, where he covered the Lakers football program. He has also worked for Sleeper and the Fantasy Trade Room. He has played fantasy for over a decade, and has been passionate about fantasy football ever since.