Connor McDavid and Team Canada face Switzerland, “poke the bear” games start now
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 13, 2026 (9:28)
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Photo credit: Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images
Team Canada vs Switzerland in Olympic men’s hockey feels like a mismatch, but the Swiss are daring Canada to snap back hard.
Canada opened Milano-Cortina with a 5-0 shutout of Czechia, and it looked like four lines with a fast-forward button.
Jordan Binnington swallowed 24 shots, and Canada never chased the game.
Switzerland also rolled into this one feeling clean between the pipes.
Leonardo Genoni stopped 27 in a 4-0 shutout of France, and Timo Meier ripped two late goals to finish it.
That’s the context behind the “poke the bear” talk, and the Swiss are leaning into it.
The OilersNation tone is simple, Canada should cruise, but Olympic games have a way of punishing sleepy starts.
Switzerland’s path is obvious, clog the middle, survive the first ten minutes, then hope Canada gets annoyed.
Canada’s path is even more obvious, score first, make the ice feel tilted, and turn every Swiss clear into another wave back.
Connor McDavid makes the Canada cushion feel unfair
Canadian fans are excited, but you can also feel that little superstition, like nobody wants to say “easy win” out loud.
If Meier gets space off the rush, or if Genoni stacks saves early, Canada’s bench pressure can flip into gripping sticks.
That’s where “poke the bear” becomes more than a quote, because Canada’s best response is cold, not loud.
Look for Canada to hunt rebounds, force penalties, and cash in on the man advantage before Switzerland can settle.
If Canada gets ahead by two, the game becomes a track meet, and that is where Switzerland usually runs out of oxygen.
Still, the Swiss don’t need to win pretty, they just need Canada to feel something.
And in a short Olympic tournament, feelings can turn into mistakes fast.
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Josh Morrissey exits vs Czechia and will not return, Team Canada and the Jets hold their breath
Josh Morrissey exits vs Czechia and will not return, Team Canada and the Jets hold their breath
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 13|132 ANSWERS Connor McDavid and Team Canada face Switzerland, “poke the bear” games start now Will Switzerland successfully poke the bear against Team Canada? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 13.6 % |
| No | 114 | 86.4 % |
| List of polls | ||