![[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Binnington of Canada celebrates with teammates after defeating Czechia in a men's ice hockey Group A match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_115,w_4333,h_2437/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/104/01khp7xrzjdnnp7ymj4s.jpg "[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 12, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jordan Binnington of Canada celebrates with teammates after defeating Czechia in a men's ice hockey Group A match during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images")
For an entire country of die-hard hockey fans, they have been treated to one of the best teams assembled of all time. The Canadian team in the 2026 Olympics in Italy has been flawless in their opening round of games, and there are no signs of slowing down.
To call them a “Dream Team” is putting it lightly. Of course, the only way that they could match such a stoic and powerful label as the 1992 Team USA basketball squad, consisting of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson, is to win gold.
With Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby, and Connor McDavid highlighting an elite squad, there is a valid argument that this team should win Gold by a landslide. After all, they just won the goal differential for the first three preliminary games at +17.
But there is one soft spot on this team. Despite it not showing up in the first couple of games, there is no way to alleviate a certain anxiety overshadowing this team.
Can the goaltending hold up, particularly in St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington? Can he be the X-factor that secures destiny?
41 million sets of eyes on Binnington
The entirety of Canada is anxiously watching every single save made by Binnington. Every flash of the glove or kick of the pad, a collective breath in and a sigh of relief, all in unison.
So far, it has been so good for No. 50, as he has already contributed to two wins of the three games. Binnington has allowed two goals on 40 shots, including the opening game shutout against Czechia. But much tougher competition lies ahead.
Canada's next opponent is the winner of the Czechia and Denmark. We all know how Czechia fared, and Denmark was the second-lowest team in this qualifier. Either team should put up much of a fight against Binnington and Team Canada. After that, they still have the top-seeds in the United States, Slovakia, and Finland to try and take care of.
The offense is going to still be soaring, with McDavid and young up-and-comer Macklin Celebrini flying around out there. Cale Makar and Devon Toews are continuing their dominating season from the Colorado Avalanche as the top-pair of defense for Canada. It all comes down to whether Binnington can clutch-up and win the gold with the weight of a country on his shoulder.