In a thrilling display of resilience, Team Canada secured their spot in the gold medal game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, overcoming Finland with a late goal by Nathan MacKinnon. With 36 seconds left on the clock, MacKinnon's power-play goal, assisted by Connor McDavid, sealed Canada's 3-2 victory, marking the first time in Olympic history that a team has achieved consecutive comeback wins to reach the gold medal game. This win comes after Canada's narrow escape against Team Czechia in the quarterfinals, where they rallied from a 4-3 deficit to secure a 4-3 victory.
The Canadians, led by captain Sidney Crosby, faced a setback as Crosby had to sit out due to a lower-body injury sustained in the previous game. Despite this, Canada's star players, including Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore, stepped up to lead the team. Theodore's goal in the third period tied the game, and Reinhart's power-play goal in the second period put Canada ahead. McDavid, who served as captain in Crosby's absence, recorded two assists, breaking the record for most points in a single Olympics involving NHL players.
Finland, the No. 4 seed, fought valiantly, with Sebastian Aho and Erik Haula scoring goals. However, Canada's determination and late-game heroics prevailed. The Canadians will now face the winner of the semifinal between Team USA and Team Slovakia for the gold medal. This victory marks Canada's second straight scare, as they had to come from behind in both games to advance to the gold medal game. The Canadians have now won gold at each of the past two Olympics involving NHL players, a testament to their consistent excellence on the Olympic stage.
