Milan/CMEDIA: Canada thumped France 10-2 on Sunday to finish with a perfect record in the preliminary round of the men’s hockey tournament at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Mark Stone had a goal and two assists each, while Tom Wilson had a goal and an assist.
After fighting Pierre Crinon in the third period, Wilson was ejected.
McDavid’s three points gives him nine across nine periods in the superstar centre’s Olympic debut.
With a plus-17 goal difference, Canada opened the tournament with Thursday’s 5-0 victory over Czechia before securing a 5-1 triumph against Switzerland on Friday to clinch first in Group A ahead of the meeting with France.
Switzerland (1-1-1-0) picked up a 4-3 overtime victory against Czechia (1-0-1-1) earlier Sunday to grab second in the group.
The red-clad Canadians were on the front foot early, but France held strong before Wilson buried a rebound off Drew Doughty’s point shot at 8:41.
With plenty of support inside Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, including chants of “Allez les Bleus” that rang around the 11,600-seat venue prior to puck drop, the French replied just 13 seconds later when Canadian defenceman Colton Parayko turned the puck over.
Canada won gold in 2002, 2010 and 2014 with its men’s stars.
