Isn’t this great? Who even cares if the start times are a little inconvenient? This is fantastic hockey at an elite level — fast, skilled and incredibly entertaining.

Day 2 saw Groups A and C open their quests for gold with four games in Milan. Here’s how it all unfolded.

France entered the tournament as a heavy underdog. With no current NHL players and just one former NHLer — Pierre-Edouard Bellemare — on the roster, the French were leaning on his experience against a deep Swiss side. That plan didn’t get off to an ideal start when Bellemare took a penalty just 36 seconds into the game.

Switzerland seized control immediately and never looked back. Damien Riat scored on the power play, and Christian Marti added another just minutes later.

After a scoreless second period, NHL veteran Timo Meier struck twice in the third to extend the lead to four and put the game out of reach.

Switzerland out-shot France 43-27. Legendary Swiss netminder Leonardo Genoni recorded the shutout.

Czechia has been a thorn in Canada’s side in recent years, including another elimination at the World Juniors. But this stage belongs to the senior stars — and Canada looked determined to remind everyone of that.

Both teams traded chances in an entertaining opening period, with Canada generating the more dangerous opportunities. Nathan MacKinnon appeared to open the scoring, but the goal was waved off due to a Canadian penalty on the play.

Canada eventually broke through late in the first when Macklin Celebrini tipped home the country’s first goal of the tournament.

The offence continued in the second. Mitch Marner delivered a brilliant backhand saucer pass over a defender to Mark Stone, who buried his first of the Games.

Not long after, Brad Marchand capped a strong shift by finding Bo Horvat streaking through the middle. Horvat converted on the breakaway, beating the Czech netminder five-hole to give Canada a 3-0 lead after 40 minutes.

Defenceman Josh Morrissey was injured late in the first and left after one shift in the second. He did not return, making his status one to monitor.

Canada put the game away in the third. On its second power play, MacKinnon scored from Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby — a sequence that should give the hockey world chills. Nick Suzuki added another when a McDavid shot deflected off him to complete a 5-0 victory.

Jordan Binnington silenced critics with a 26-save shutout, continuing his strong form in international play.

Lukas Dostal did what he could for Czechia, and the Czechs were competitive in the shot count, but Canada limited quality chances and controlled play from start to finish. It was a complete team effort with offence, defence and goaltending all firing.

This one had the makings of a tight contest. Both teams feature a mix of NHL and European talent, along with proven NHL goaltenders. It delivered.

Germany struck almost immediately. Captain Leon Draisaitl redirected a puck home just 23 seconds into the game.

Denmark responded midway through the period when Nikolaj Ehlers sent the puck to the front and Oscar Moelgaard redirected it past the German goaltender. The first period ended tied 1-1.

The second belonged to Germany. Tim Stützle scored twice — first on a one-timer, then on the power play when a pass attempt deflected off a Danish defender and into the net.

Denmark generated 16 shots in the second but couldn’t solve Philipp Grubauer.

Despite outshooting Germany 38-26 overall, Denmark couldn’t break through again. Grubauer made 37 saves as Germany secured a 3-1 victory to open its Olympic campaign.

Latvia’s formula rarely changes: defend relentlessly, rely on strong goaltending and capitalize on mistakes. Against a stacked American roster, those mistakes are scarce — but Latvia never backs down.

The United States opened the scoring early when Matthew Tkachuk set up Brady Tkachuk for the finish. Quinn Hughes appeared to double the lead soon after, but the goal was overturned for offside.

Latvia seized momentum from the reversal. Following a scramble in front, Renars Krastenbergs poked a loose puck past Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game.

The Americans thought they had regained the lead when Brock Nelson tipped one in, but a coach’s challenge overturned the goal for goaltender interference. Latvia caught another break moments later when a loose puck sat untouched in the crease with an open net, but they somehow failed to score the go-ahead goal. The first period ended tied 1-1 after the Unites States hit a post and a crossbar before periods end.

The American pressure eventually broke through in the second. Nelson restored the lead with a slick move in tight. Tage Thompson extended it, and Nelson added his second of the period on a crisp passing play — what Chris Cuthbert aptly called a “tic-tac-tic-tac-goal.”

Elvis Merzlikins faced a barrage and looked fatigued by the end of the period as the U.S. took control.

Latvia turned to Arturs Silovs for the third, but it didn’t slow the Americans. Auston Matthews scored on an early power play to make it 5-1.

From there, the United States managed the game comfortably, closing out its Olympic opener with a convincing victory after an early scare.

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