Canada's NHLers secure 12th consecutive victory
by Andrew Podnieks | 13 FEB 2026
Photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
Canada demonstrated their offensive prowess, overcoming a valiant Swiss team with a 5-1 victory. This triumph marks the 12th consecutive win for Canada's NHL players, building upon their flawless record in the 2014 tournament and the final four games of the Vancouver Olympics.
Sidney Crosby's career best-on-best record now stands at 23-2, encompassing the 2016 World Cup and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
Canada leads Group A with a 2-0 record and six points, poised to secure the top spot on Sunday with a victory over France. The Swiss, who face Czechia earlier that day, are vying for second place and a favorable re-seeding position before the Qualification Round.
Linemates Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon each contributed a goal and two assists.
McDavid praised MacKinnon, stating, 'Nate's a guy I watch a lot of. I'm a big fan. I've been observing a lot of Colorado games, so I understand Nate's preferences and positioning. Our playing styles align, and we share a good understanding of where we want the puck.'
Despite the impressive win, the game concluded on a somber note. Late in the match, Tom Wilson and Kevin Fiala engaged in a scuffle along the boards, resulting in Wilson's awkward fall on Fiala's leg. Fiala, a Swiss star, was stretchered off, indicating a potentially serious injury.
Canada's defender, Drew Doughty, expressed confidence in their performance, noting their immediate response to the Swiss team's pressure. He acknowledged the potential for further improvement, praising the Swiss as a formidable opponent in a hard-fought game.
Doughty shared concerns about Fiala's injury, indicating his intention to check on the player's well-being.
Philipp Kurashev acknowledged the Swiss team's strengths, stating, 'We had some good stretches, but they're a top-tier team, and they capitalize on mistakes.'
The arena buzzed with a sea of red and white, predominantly Swiss, but with enough Canadian supporters to create a lively atmosphere.
On the ice, the players delivered an exceptional display of hockey. Canada, the favorites, generated more scoring opportunities, while the Swiss proved effective in the Canadian end, causing their opponents to scramble on multiple occasions.
The intensity of the game was evident from the opening minute, as Shea Theodore's quick point shot hit the crossbar behind Akira Schmid's goal.
Nino Niederreiter quickly responded with a scoring chance, outmaneuvering Logan Thompson, but the goalie made a crucial save at the last moment.
Canada took the lead with an exceptional power play. Nathan MacKinnon's cross-ice pass found Connor McDavid, who patiently waited for Schmid to commit before threading a shot under the goalie's pads at 5:45.
Mitch Marner's falling, lunging pass to Sidney Crosby resulted in a deke, but the goalie's skate deflected the high backhand shot, keeping it out of the net.
Midway through the period, McDavid's cross-ice pass to Thomas Harley resulted in a goal at 10:54, extending Canada's lead to 2-0.
The Swiss responded with a power play goal, as Thompson stopped a long shot, but the puck deflected off the crossbar and dropped for Pius Suter to score, bringing the Swiss back into the game.
This goal marked the first time Canada's NHLers had conceded since the 2014 Olympics quarter-finals against Latvia. They then shut out the United States (semi-finals) and Sweden (gold medal game) and defeated Czechia the previous day.
Canada extended their lead early in the second period with a lightning-fast play. MacKinnon's quick pass to Macklin Celebrini behind the Swiss net resulted in a swift shot by the 19-year-old, beating Schmid at 4:14.
Crosby increased the lead to 4-1 at 7:28 in the third period, redirecting a pass by Mitch Marner, providing insurance after the Swiss's persistent pressure.
MacKinnon's goal made it 5-1, but the highlight was McDavid's dazzling play. He skillfully maneuvered past Schmid, but MacKinnon was there to redirect the puck into the open side.
McDavid attributed their success to teamwork and coaching, stating, 'We're all working through the systems, and the familiarity from the Four Nations helps. We understand the coaching staff's expectations, and we're getting excellent goaltending support.'
