Canada’s offensive explosion has given them a comfortable cushion in goal differential against Team USA, now leading by 10. For USA to steal the top spot from Canada, they must win in regulation, score at least 10 goals, but the margin of victory also has to be 10 goals. That would have the Americans tie the Canadians in record points and goal differential, but give them the edge (by one) in total goals.

But now we wait for the result of Team USA vs. Team Germany to determine Canada’s final seeding.

Let’s break down the on-ice slaughter Canada put on France.

France vs. Canada

As one would have expected, Canada got off to a hot start and found the back of the net within the first few minutes of action.

GOAL: Tom Wilson – Assists: Drew Doughty and Connor McDavid – 1-0 Canada

Connor McDavid rings the puck around the boards for Tom Wilson, who boxes out the French defenceman and fires it back to Drew Doughty at the point. The LA Kings defenceman wires a slapshot on net, and Wilson is there to shovel the rebound behind Julian Junca to open the scoring.

But the Canadians lead was not safe for long.

GOAL: Floran Douay – Assists: Justin Addamo – 1-1 tie

St. Louis Blues defenceman Colton Parayko elects to fire the puck up the defensive zone rather than along the boards. Floran Douay intercepts the pass, finds Justin Addamo alone in the high slot, who passes it off Jordan Binnington’s pads back to Douay for the French to tie the game 13 seconds after allowing the first.

Tough play to watch for Parayko. Turns the puck over, and then can’t box out at the net front on the rebound, which ends up in the back of your net. But he didn’t have to worry for long, as 39 seconds later, Canada regained their lead.

GOAL: Devon Toews – Assists: Sidney Crosby and Cale Makar – 2-1 Canada

Sidney Crosby leads his team through the neutral zone on a two-on-one with Mark Stone. Selling pass the whole way, Crosby looks off Stone and finds the trailer Devon Toews, who beats Junca clean.

And as they did in their opening game against the Czechs, Canada scored in the dying seconds of the first period.

GOAL: Mark Stone – Assists: unassisted – 3-1 Canada

Playing aggressively on the penalty kill, Mitch Marner and Stone pressure the puck carrier in the neutral zone, forcing a turnover and springing the Vegas Golden Knight on the shorthanded breakaway. While his foot speed nearly got him caught by the French defender, Stone protected the puck to his backhand and lofted the puck up and over Junca to give the Canadians a two-goal cushion heading into the middle frame.

And then, the floodgates officially opened. Cale Makar scored his first Olympic goal on the power play.

GOAL: Cale Makar – Assists: Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby – 4-1 Canada

Macklin Celebrini got dragged down and on a breakaway and was awarded a penalty shot. The 19-year-old showed no nerves and capitalized on his opportunity.

GOAL: Macklin Celebrini – Penalty Shot – 5-1 Canada

Sidney Crosby attempted a pass that deflected off Dylan Fabre’s stick and into the net.

GOAL: Sidney Crosby – Assists: Mark Stone – 6-1 Canada

Connor McDavid took the through-ball type pass from Celebrini and deked out Antoine Keller, who came in relief to start the third, 20 seconds into the period.

GOAL: Connor McDavid – Assists: Macklin Celebrini and Tom Wilson – 7-1 Canada.

Then France stopped the flooding, breaking Canada’s streak of six straight goals when Sacha Trielle beat Binnington clean with a slapshot down the wing.

GOAL: Sacha Trielle – Assists: Justin Addamo and Pierre Crinon – 7-2 Canada

Bo Horvat roofed a rebound in from along the goal line.

GOAL: Bo Horvat – Assists: Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett – 8-2 Canada

Nathan MacKinnon’s line finally contributed at 5-on-5, when he and Brandon Hagel connected off the rush.

GOAL: Brandon Hagel – Assists: Nathan MacKinnon and Shea Theodore – 9-2 Canada

And then France’s frustration began to boil over due to the blowout. Behind the French net, Pierre Crinon caught MacKinnon with his forearm to the face. MacKinnon was unhappy; however, the Canadians were awarded a power play, and Celebrini scored his second of the game.

GOAL: Macklin Celebrini – Assists: Mark Stone and Mitch Marner – 10-2 Canada Final.

The chippy-ness continued after that, as another French forward caught Seth Jarvis in the face, leaving his mouth bloody. Then, Team Canada tough guy Tom Wilson dropped the gloves with Crinon for what he did to MacKinnon.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed that neither Wilson nor Cronin will be suspended for fighting. They will be available for their next games.

Canada will enjoy the extra day off before returning to action for the Quarterfinals on Tuesday. For now, they await their fate following the outcome of USA/Germany. If they can secure the top seed, they will play the winner of the 8/9 seeded game on Monday.

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