Canada Stages Comeback Against Finland to Secure Spot in Final
Canada has advanced to the men's Olympic hockey gold medal game after a dramatic semifinal victory against Finland. The Canadians erased a two-goal deficit, with a late goal securing their place in the championship match. This marks Canada's third consecutive appearance in the Olympic gold medal game when NHL players have participated.
Game Progression and Key Moments
Finland established an early lead in the semifinal match.
First Period: Finland scored the opening goal at 11:58 and later added another power-play marker at the end of the first period.
Second Period: Finland extended their lead to 2-0 with a shorthanded breakaway goal early in the second period. Canada managed to get on the scoreboard during this period, bringing the score to 2-1.
Third Period: Canada's persistent pressure resulted in the tying goal at 12:45, making the score 2-2. The game remained tied until the final minutes.
Game-Winning Goal: Nathan MacKinnon scored the decisive goal on a power play with 35.2 seconds remaining in the third period, giving Canada a 3-2 lead.
Canada's success was achieved despite the absence of veteran captain Sidney Crosby, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury sustained in the quarterfinal round. Connor McDavid served as captain for the semifinal.
Statistical Overview
Canada significantly outshot Finland throughout the game, with a 39-16 advantage in shots on goal. Canada's power play was effective, converting 2 out of 3 opportunities. Finland scored on 1 out of 2 power plays.
| Team | Shots on Goal | Power Play Goals | Penalties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 39 | 2 | N/A |
| Finland | 16 | 1 | N/A |
Canada's Path to the Final
This victory continues Canada's strong performance in the tournament. Both Canada and Finland had previously secured comeback wins in their respective quarterfinal matches to reach the semifinals. Canada's semifinal win involved a significant rally, similar to their quarterfinal match against Czechia where they trailed late in regulation before forcing overtime.
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Opponent for the Gold Medal Game
Canada will face the winner of the other semifinal match between the United States and Slovakia. The gold medal game is scheduled for Sunday.
Broader Olympic Context
The participation of NHL players in the Olympics has been a key factor in the caliber of play. Canada's appearance in the gold medal game is a notable achievement, reflecting the nation's consistent presence in these high-stakes matches.
Canada aims for its third consecutive gold medal with NHL participation.
Both Canada and Finland demonstrated their resilience by achieving come-from-behind victories in the quarterfinals.
The semifinal featured two of the highest-scoring teams in the tournament, with Canada (24 goals) and Finland (19 goals) leading the offensive charts.
Media Coverage and Broadcasting
News of the match was widely reported across sports and general news outlets. Broadcast rights for the Olympics, including this semifinal match, were held by various national and international media partners, such as CBC, Bell Media, Rogers Media, NBC Olympics, Peacock, and Warner Bros Discovery, among others, depending on the region.
Sources used for this report:
Sporting News Canada: https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/olympics/news/canada-finland-live-score-highlights-2026-hockey-semifinals/24c2aef3f471f867571664b8 - Provides details on the game's progression and score.
CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/finland-leads-canada-1-0-after-faceoff-goal-in-olympic-semifinal-live-updates-here/ - Confirms Canada's victory in the semifinal.
TSN: https://www.tsn.ca/olympics/article/rantanen-gives-finland-lead-over-canada-in-mens-hockey-semifinal/ - Details Finland's early lead and MacKinnon's game-winning goal, along with shot statistics.
The Athletic (NYT): https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/live-blogs/canada-vs-finland-live-score-mens-hockey-winter-olympics/69WZ2HeXj5cj/ - Reports on MacKinnon's game-winning goal and Canada's third consecutive final appearance.
Global News: https://globalnews.ca/news/11676036/canada-finland-semi-finals/ - Mentions Crosby's absence, McDavid's captaincy, and MacKinnon's winning goal.
NHL.com: https://www.nhl.com/news/live-blog-canada-vs-finland-milano-cortina-hockey-semifinal - Provides context on the teams' performance and tournament statistics.
Olympics.com: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/news/olympic-hockey-bracket-team-canada-finland-mens-ice-hockey-semi-finals-date-time-how-to-watch - Discusses previous game results for both teams and broadcasting information.
