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The aspirations of Canada for a men’s hockey gold medal at the Milano-Cortina Olympics persist.
Nathan MacKinnon netted a power-play goal with 35.2 seconds remaining in the third period, as the Canadian squad overcame a two-goal disadvantage to reach the championship match with a 3-2 triumph against Finland on Friday.
Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore contributed the other markers for Canada, who are scheduled to meet the United States in Sunday’s medal contest, concluding the NHL’s re-entry into the Olympics. Jordan Binnington recorded 15 stops.
Connor McDavid contributed two helpers, establishing a new record for points by an NHL athlete in a single Olympic tournament with 13.
Mikko Rantanen and Erik Haula scored for Finland. Juuse Saros turned aside 36 shots. Finland is set to compete against Slovakia in Friday’s subsequent semifinal for the bronze medal on Saturday.
MacKinnon’s decisive goal occurred late in regular time, with the Canadians enjoying a power play and pressing hard, following a feed from McDavid that was upheld after Finland’s offside challenge.
Canada played without captain Sidney Crosby after he sustained a lower-body ailment during the second period of Wednesday’s exciting 4-3 extra-time win. The 38-year-old’s right limb twisted unnaturally as he prepared for a collision with defenseman Radko Gudas near the ice’s center.
Canadian bench boss Jon Cooper indicated that Crosby’s participation in Sunday’s gold-medal final is still questionable.
Jon Cooper on Sidney Crosby’s availability for Sunday:
We have 48 hours to determine…he has a better chance of playing that then he did of playing today.
McDavid fulfilled a childhood aspiration by donning the “C” on his jersey for Canada.
The prominent center — along with countless supporters domestically — wishes this role is temporary for the Milano-Cortina Games.
“Simply holding the captaincy for Sid,” stated McDavid, who acted as captain due to Crosby’s unavailability. “We hope to see him return for Sunday. I’m certain it was difficult for him to sit out tonight, and undoubtedly a lengthy game to observe. I’m quite sure of that.
“However, it’s deeply significant to represent our nation here, collectively, in the sport we cherish. That is the essence of it all.”
Trailing 2-1 at the commencement of the third period, Canada saw a crucial save by Binnington against Anton Lundell. Saros thwarted a Marner one-timer at the opposing end, then prevented Brad Marchand on a fast break.
Nathan MacKinnon’s goal with 36 seconds remaining in regular play saw Canada defeat Finland 3-2, advancing to the Olympic men’s ice hockey gold-medal game.
Team in red maintained offensive pressure
The squad dressed in red maintained their offensive pressure, and Theodore eventually leveled the score with another one-time shot at 10:34, after a sequence where Haula previously propelled Marchand into Saros, igniting fervent cheers from the Canadian group on the bench and among the spectators.
Saros executed another significant save against Marner with less than five minutes remaining in regulation, and then against MacKinnon with three minutes left.
Niko Mikkola incurred a penalty for high-sticking MacKinnon, who subsequently secured the victory for Canada in the final moments.
Canada clinched its semifinal spot dramatically, thanks to a late tying goal from Nick Suzuki, prior to Mitch Marner’s overtime winner via a superb individual play, averting a critical situation against Czechia.
Finland progressed similarly, securing a 3-2 overtime victory against Switzerland after being down by two goals halfway through the final frame.
Saros executed a strong save against Macklin Celebrini following a McDavid assist three minutes into the first period. The Canadians, who initiated physical play early with significant checks from Tom Wilson and Seth Jarvis, subsequently faced penalty issues.
Sam Bennett surrendered possession of the puck, resulting in a bench minor for too many men on the ice which his team successfully defended. However, the powerful center and current Conn Smythe Trophy recipient as NHL playoff MVP with the Stanley Cup champion Panthers later drove Mikkola, his Florida teammate, into Saros, drawing a goaltender interference infraction.
Rantanen capitalized on the subsequent faceoff, unleashing a one-time shot beyond Binnington’s glove at 16:55. Canada found themselves trailing for the second consecutive contest, having previously maintained a tied or leading position for over 800 minutes of Olympic hockey with its NHL personnel since the 2010 competition in Vancouver.
Finland, participating in the Games without star center Aleksander Barkov due to his ongoing recovery from a knee ailment, extended their lead to 2-0 at 3:26 of the second frame when Haula broke free on a short-handed rush and elevated his shot over Binnington.
Nathan MacKinnon’s goal, scored with 36 seconds remaining in regulation, propelled Canada into the Olympic men’s hockey gold-medal game following a 3-2 victory against Finland.
Reinhart initiates Canadian scoring
Canada was awarded another power play later in the period, eventually finding success when Cale Makar’s shot from the point was deflected by Reinhart beyond Saros at 14:20.
McDavid registered an assist, establishing a new points record for an NHL competitor in a single Games with 12. The prior benchmark he matched in the quarter-finals was achieved two decades ago in Turin, Italy, by Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu.
Canadian supporters in Milan enjoyed beverages and played tracks from the renowned rock group “The Tragically Hip” loudly from a speaker under the sun outside the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena — a venue situated southeast of the city’s core, finalized just before the Games — in the time leading up to the game’s start.
Within the arena, a contingent of fans displayed a substantial Canadian flag from the front row of the seating section nearest to their hockey idols’ bench.
The NHL made its comeback to the 2026 Winter Olympics following a 12-year hiatus. Canada secured gold in 2002, 2010, and 2014 with its male stars. The nation was defeated in the semifinals in 1998, subsequently losing to the Finns in the bronze-medal contest, and was eliminated in the 2006 quarter-finals.
Crosby and defenseman Drew Doughty achieved gold in both 2010 and 2014 — making them the sole players on the squad with prior Olympic exposure before the hockey powerhouse reached Italy.
Friday commemorated the first anniversary of Canada’s thrilling 2-1 win against the U.S. to secure the 4 Nations Face-Off, an event that functioned as a precursor to the NHL’s Olympic re-engagement.
