MILAN, Feb 15 (Reuters) - Canada chased top seeding from the Olympic ice hockey preliminary stage with a 10-2 rout of France to close out the first stage of the men's tournament in Group A on Sunday.
The pre-tournament favourites had already won the section to reach the quarter-finals but the margin of their win over France could make them top seeds on goal difference, with the U.S. also hunting a third win when they play Germany in Group C later on Sunday.
Young star Macklin Celebrini scored twice while Tom Wilson, Devon Toews and Mark Stone scored in the first period and Cale Makar and captain Sidney Crosby scored in the second.
Connor McDavid, Bo Horvat and Brandon Hagel added scores in the third.
The Olympic tournament, featuring NHL players for the first time since 2014, has seen its share of skirmishes but Sunday's affair got its first outright fight.
Canadian Tom Wilson and Frenchman Pierre Crinon earned a game misconduct when they came to blows in the third period.
France, who were without a win through three preliminary matches, will compete in Tuesday's qualification playoff.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Milan; Editing by Ken Ferris)
