Ice hockey-Masterful Canada shut out Czechs, US work out early kinks v Latvia

MILAN, Feb 12 : Tournament favourites Canada marked their territory with a 5-0 win over Czech Republic to open their men's Olympic ice hockey campaign on Thursday before the United States hit their stride to beat Latvia 5-1.

The two gold medal contenders in Milan highlighted the evening programme on the second day of the men's action at Santagiulia arena.

Canada's goalie Jordan Binnington turned away all 26 shots he faced, as 19-year-old prodigy Macklin Celebrini scored in the first period, while forwards Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon and Nick Suzuki added goals. 

Connor McDavid notched three assists.

"There's nobody in that room that's entitled," said Canada coach Jon Cooper of his team of National Hockey League stars. 

"That's what's great about this group. Hey, listen, it's just one game. But the way we've started and the way today's gone, (I'm) pretty proud and confident."

The NHL's return to the Olympic stage has offered a lethal advantage to the country that regards ice hockey as a national religion, and fans piled in to see the Canadian master class.

Binnington stretched across the ice to save a prime chance from Czech forward David Kampf late in the first period and Canada got on the board when defenceman Cale Makar fired the puck toward the net and Celebrini tipped it in.

Forward Mitch Marner conjured a bit of magic in the crease in the second period, as he flipped the puck over prone Czech defenceman David Spacek and connected with his Vegas Golden Knights teammate Stone, who sent it into the net.

New York Islanders centre Horvat beat the Czech goalie to add another score with less than three minutes to go before the second intermission.

MacKinnon tapped in the fourth goal off assists from NHL points leader