A Businesslike Step Toward the Real Test
Canada enters the France game with one job: handle their business and move on. No drama, no surprises. On paper, this is the softest landing spot of the tournament—a roster stacked with NHL pedigree against a French side still building its international footprint. It’s the kind of matchup where the scoreline matters less than the habits.
Expect Canada to dictate pace early, roll four lines, and get their special teams reps without burning unnecessary energy. These are the games where structure gets sharpened, chemistry gets tuned, and coaches quietly evaluate who’s ready for heavier minutes when the real gauntlet begins.
France will work, they always do, but this is a talent gulf. Canada’s depth alone should tilt the ice for sixty minutes. The key is staying healthy, staying disciplined, and keeping the engine humming for the tougher opponents waiting down the bracket.
A blowout won’t impress anyone back home—it’ll simply confirm what everyone already knows. Canada’s gold chase doesn’t hinge on France. But how they handle this game will say something about their readiness for the ones that actually define a tournament.
Businesslike. Efficient. On to the next.
Canada - Czechia - Feb 12, 2026 | NHL.com
Canada - Switzerland - Feb 13, 2026 | NHL.com
