Canada kept rolling at the world hockey championship on Saturday, blanking Italy 6-0 behind two goals from Macklin Celebrini and 19 saves from Cam Talbot. Dylan Holloway, Fraser Minten, Evan Bouchard and Ryan O’Reilly also scored as Canada moved to 2 wins from 2 games in Group B.
Holloway and Minten scored 47 seconds apart midway through the opening period to put Canada in control early. Celebrini added to the lead with a one-timer from the right circle with 3:04 remaining in the period, then struck again at 2:09 in the second period with a backhand shot high into the net after Sidney Crosby set up the play with the first assist.
Bouchard added a power-play goal later in the second period, extending a game that never really tightened. After beating Sweden 5-3 in Friday’s opener, Canada is through its first two games with maximum points and a shutout to go with it.
For Italy, the loss came in its return to the top division for the first time since 2022, and the gap in speed and finish was clear from the start. That was the part Canada’s bench wanted to see most, according to assistant coach Misha Donskov, who said he was happy with the group’s effort and that the message was to stick to the team’s structure and the way it wants to play in this tournament.
Celebrini, 19, was the night’s center of gravity, and Bouchard was among those impressed by how quickly he has taken command. Bouchard said he is one of the best players in the NHL, that you really see it when you play on his team and watch him live, and that he is such a fun player to watch and is leading the way. He added that what Celebrini did at the Olympics made this success no surprise.
Canada’s next test comes Monday against Denmark, with Group B already starting to sort itself out after a sharp opening pair of wins. If Saturday was any indication, Canada does not just have results right now; it has a top line, a deep attack and a goalie who has not given opponents much to work with.
