Logan Thompson picked up with Team Canada where he left off with the Washington Capitals.
The 28-year-old netminder secured his first-ever Olympic win in a 24-save effort for the Canadians on Friday. Thompson made 24 total saves in the 5-1 victory over Switzerland, pushing Canada atop Group A with two wins from two games.
Thompson’s best save of the game was perhaps his first, robbing Nino Niederreiter on a 3-on-1 Swiss chance with just 1:24 elapsed from the first period.
Outside of Thompson’s efforts in goal, Canada was pushed to the victory by goals from Connor McDavid, Thomas Harley, Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby, and Nathan MacKinnon. Thompson’s Capitals teammate, Tom Wilson, notched his first-career Olympic point on Harley’s first-period tally.
The lone goal that Thompson did concede came on a Swiss power play in the first frame. After making a save through traffic, Thompson could not corral the rebound, which was slammed home by Pius Suter. He was spotless in the second and third periods.
With Canada cruising to another easy win, their good feelings were put on hold for a moment when Swiss forward Kevin Fiala needed to be stretchered off the ice following a collision with Wilson. Fiala is one of Switzerland’s top players and a previous 85-point scorer in the NHL.
The Los Angeles Kings winger seemingly tried to throw a counter hit on Wilson, and both players went tumbling hard to the ice along the boards with Wilson’s full weight landing on Fiala’s left leg.
While Thompson ends Friday with a win, the Canadians will likely return to St. Louis Blues backstop Jordan Binnington for their final group game against France on Sunday. Binnington made 26 saves in a 5-0 shutout of Czechia on Thursday.
Canada will need just one point against the French to secure the top spot in Group A, heading into the knockout stages of the tournament.