Canada trailed Finland by two goals but rallied to win the semi-final 3-2 on Nathan MacKinnon's last-minute goal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDRE RINGUETTE
Nathan MacKinnon scored the power-play winner with just 35 seconds left as Canada rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Finland 3-2 and advance to the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It was an absolute thriller at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Friday.
MacKinnon, who got Canada the man advantage after being high-sticked by Niko Mikkola, converted a one-timer from the left side set up by Connor McDavid for his fourth goal of these Games. Finnish coach Antti Pennanen challenged the play, alleging teenage sensation Macklini Celebrini was offside, but to no avail.
"It's a pretty special feeling, something you've always dreamt of being a part of when you're in your backyard on an outdoor hockey rink," said MItch Marner, who was Canada's overtime hero in the quarter-final win over Czechia.
Canada, seeking its first Olympic gold since 2014, will take on the winner of the U.S.-Slovakia semi-final in Sunday’s final. Finland will face the loser for bronze on Saturday.
Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore also scored for Canada. Goalie Jordan Binnington got his fifth win. McDavid, wearing the "C" with Sidney Crosby out due to injury, had two assists. McDavid has set a new “NHL Olympics” points record with 13 points to date, surpassing the previous high of 11 shared by Finland’s Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu en route to the 2006 silver medal.
Offensive firepower was the difference-maker. On top of MacKinnon's heroics, McDavid and Celebrini each played more than 25 minutes and the Canadian power play clicked twice. McDavid ranks first overall in NHL scoring, MacKinnon second, and Celebrini fourth.
"They've done well all tournament long," said Canada's Colton Parayko. "It's impressive for our group. They're amazing players, and we get to see what they do. I'm looking forward to one more big game with them."
Finland's dream of defending its Olympic title ended in a heartbreaking way. In 2022, the Finns beat the ROC team 2-1 to win their first gold medal ever.
Mikko Rantanen and Erik Haula had the goals for Finland.
"“I think we proved, once again, that we’re world-class players and can play with anyone," said Anton Lundell. "Today, we needed another 35 seconds."
Although outshot 39-17, the Finns played a calm, professional, and opportunistic game and nearly achieved a big upset versus Canada's NHL best with goalie Juuse Saros shining. Finland was lacking its top centre in injured NHL superstar Aleksander Barkov.
Canada’s top line came out hard. Within the first three minutes, Tom Wilson had thrown multiple board-shaking hits and Saros had to rob Celebrini from the slot on McDavid’s centering pass. But the Finns were finding ways to test Binnington off the rush too. They supported the puck well and kept it out of the danger areas defensively.
The abrasive Sam Bennett – who won the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP with the Florida Panthers – served Canada's mid-period minor for too many players. He went to the box again when he shoved Mikkola into Saros after firing a shot off the rush.
The Finns capitalized just three seconds into the man advantage. Sebastian Aho won the offensive-zone faceoff and Rantanen fired a perfect shot over Binnington’s glove at 16:55. It was the second goal of these Olympics for the Dallas Stars ace, who leads Finland in scoring.
Canada got its first power play early in the second perio after Aho hauled down Wilson breaking to the net. But again, Finland's special teams cashed in as Joel Armia sprang Haula on a shorthanded breakaway. The veteran Nashville Predators forward outraced Cale Makar to roof a backhander past Binnington at 3:26.
Lundell, who missed Finland's 3-2 quarter-final win over Switzerland due to illness, took a high-sticking penalty on his Florida linemate Brad Marchand. On the power play, Reinhart, sparsely used as Canada's thirteenth forward, got his team on the board at 14:20, deftly tipping Makar's centre point shot in. Second-period shots were 14-3 Canada.
"We didn’t give them many Grade A chances, but their power play is dangerous," said Armia. "They’re a great team."
Nearing the six-minute mark of the third, Lundell nearly atoned for his earlier penalty when he burst in on a breakaway, but Binnington made a nice pad save.
Theodore found the equalizer at 10:34 on a long blast with Marchand causing chaos around the Finnish goalie's crease.
"It was exciting to see it go in and tie it up for us," said Theodore. "They're a great team. We simplified our game a little bit, stuck to our plan, got more bodies in front and pucks to the net. He's a great goalie, but it's hard to see when there are bodies in front."
The Finns fought to the end even after being penalized for their failed coach's challenge. They called their timeout and pulled Saros for the extra attacker. But they will settle for bronze at best.
The Finns defeated Canada in the 2019 and 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship finals. But they have never beaten Canada in a senior best-on-best international playoff game with gold still up for grabs.
Finland split its previous four Olympic meetings with Canada in the “NHL Olympics” era. The Finns denied Wayne Gretzky an Olympic medal with a 3-2 bronze medal win in 1998 and blanked Canada 2-0 on Antero Niittymaki’s shutout in the preliminary round in 2006. Canada ousted the Finns with a 2-1 quarter-final win in 2002 on the way to its first Olympic gold medal in 50 years. It edged Finland 2-1 on Drew Doughty’s overtime goal in the preliminary round in 2014.
The Canadians have never lost a gold medal game in the “NHL Olympics” era. They beat the U.S. 5-2 in 2002 (Salt Lake City) and 3-2 in overtime in 2010 (Vancouver). They blanked Sweden 3-0 in 2014 (Sochi). Coach Jon Cooper and his powerful roster have a glorious opportunity to continue that streak on Sunday.
MacKinnon, who got Canada the man advantage after being high-sticked by Niko Mikkola, converted a one-timer from the left side set up by Connor McDavid for his fourth goal of these Games. Finnish coach Antti Pennanen challenged the play, alleging teenage sensation Macklini Celebrini was offside, but to no avail.
"It's a pretty special feeling, something you've always dreamt of being a part of when you're in your backyard on an outdoor hockey rink," said MItch Marner, who was Canada's overtime hero in the quarter-final win over Czechia.
Canada, seeking its first Olympic gold since 2014, will take on the winner of the U.S.-Slovakia semi-final in Sunday’s final. Finland will face the loser for bronze on Saturday.
Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore also scored for Canada. Goalie Jordan Binnington got his fifth win. McDavid, wearing the "C" with Sidney Crosby out due to injury, had two assists. McDavid has set a new “NHL Olympics” points record with 13 points to date, surpassing the previous high of 11 shared by Finland’s Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu en route to the 2006 silver medal.
Offensive firepower was the difference-maker. On top of MacKinnon's heroics, McDavid and Celebrini each played more than 25 minutes and the Canadian power play clicked twice. McDavid ranks first overall in NHL scoring, MacKinnon second, and Celebrini fourth.
"They've done well all tournament long," said Canada's Colton Parayko. "It's impressive for our group. They're amazing players, and we get to see what they do. I'm looking forward to one more big game with them."
Finland's dream of defending its Olympic title ended in a heartbreaking way. In 2022, the Finns beat the ROC team 2-1 to win their first gold medal ever.
Mikko Rantanen and Erik Haula had the goals for Finland.
"“I think we proved, once again, that we’re world-class players and can play with anyone," said Anton Lundell. "Today, we needed another 35 seconds."
Although outshot 39-17, the Finns played a calm, professional, and opportunistic game and nearly achieved a big upset versus Canada's NHL best with goalie Juuse Saros shining. Finland was lacking its top centre in injured NHL superstar Aleksander Barkov.
Canada’s top line came out hard. Within the first three minutes, Tom Wilson had thrown multiple board-shaking hits and Saros had to rob Celebrini from the slot on McDavid’s centering pass. But the Finns were finding ways to test Binnington off the rush too. They supported the puck well and kept it out of the danger areas defensively.
The abrasive Sam Bennett – who won the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP with the Florida Panthers – served Canada's mid-period minor for too many players. He went to the box again when he shoved Mikkola into Saros after firing a shot off the rush.
The Finns capitalized just three seconds into the man advantage. Sebastian Aho won the offensive-zone faceoff and Rantanen fired a perfect shot over Binnington’s glove at 16:55. It was the second goal of these Olympics for the Dallas Stars ace, who leads Finland in scoring.
Canada got its first power play early in the second perio after Aho hauled down Wilson breaking to the net. But again, Finland's special teams cashed in as Joel Armia sprang Haula on a shorthanded breakaway. The veteran Nashville Predators forward outraced Cale Makar to roof a backhander past Binnington at 3:26.
Lundell, who missed Finland's 3-2 quarter-final win over Switzerland due to illness, took a high-sticking penalty on his Florida linemate Brad Marchand. On the power play, Reinhart, sparsely used as Canada's thirteenth forward, got his team on the board at 14:20, deftly tipping Makar's centre point shot in. Second-period shots were 14-3 Canada.
"We didn’t give them many Grade A chances, but their power play is dangerous," said Armia. "They’re a great team."
Nearing the six-minute mark of the third, Lundell nearly atoned for his earlier penalty when he burst in on a breakaway, but Binnington made a nice pad save.
Theodore found the equalizer at 10:34 on a long blast with Marchand causing chaos around the Finnish goalie's crease.
"It was exciting to see it go in and tie it up for us," said Theodore. "They're a great team. We simplified our game a little bit, stuck to our plan, got more bodies in front and pucks to the net. He's a great goalie, but it's hard to see when there are bodies in front."
The Finns fought to the end even after being penalized for their failed coach's challenge. They called their timeout and pulled Saros for the extra attacker. But they will settle for bronze at best.
The Finns defeated Canada in the 2019 and 2022 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship finals. But they have never beaten Canada in a senior best-on-best international playoff game with gold still up for grabs.
Finland split its previous four Olympic meetings with Canada in the “NHL Olympics” era. The Finns denied Wayne Gretzky an Olympic medal with a 3-2 bronze medal win in 1998 and blanked Canada 2-0 on Antero Niittymaki’s shutout in the preliminary round in 2006. Canada ousted the Finns with a 2-1 quarter-final win in 2002 on the way to its first Olympic gold medal in 50 years. It edged Finland 2-1 on Drew Doughty’s overtime goal in the preliminary round in 2014.
The Canadians have never lost a gold medal game in the “NHL Olympics” era. They beat the U.S. 5-2 in 2002 (Salt Lake City) and 3-2 in overtime in 2010 (Vancouver). They blanked Sweden 3-0 in 2014 (Sochi). Coach Jon Cooper and his powerful roster have a glorious opportunity to continue that streak on Sunday.
Semi-finals: Canada vs Finland - 2026 Men's Olympic Games
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