Jordan Binnington silenced his critics with a spectacular Olympic debut, posting a 26-save shutout as Team Canada cruised to a 5-0 victory over Czechia on Thursday.
The St. Louis Blues netminder, who’s had a tough year in the NHL, looked like a completely different player on the international stage.
“It feels great to get the win for the boys,” Binnington said after the game. “This is what the Olympics are all about.”
Canada’s offensive stars did their part too. Phenom Macklin Celebrini, Mark Stone, and Nathan MacKinnon each found the back of the net as part of a 36-shot barrage against the Czech defense.
But it was Binnington who stole the show.
The performance couldn’t have come at a better time for the 32-year-old goalie. He’s struggled mightily with the Blues this season, posting a disappointing 8-17-6 record in 32 games.
Many wondered if Canada’s loaded roster might be undone by shaky goaltending. Those doubts seemed reasonable given Binnington’s recent NHL troubles.
Instead, he looked more like the goalie who helped lead the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in 2019.
“Jordan was locked in from the start,” Team Canada head coach Doug Armstrong said. “That’s the kind of goaltending that can win you a gold medal.”
The win puts Canada in great position heading into their next game against Sweden. But for now, they can celebrate knowing their biggest question mark just turned into an exclamation point.
