Nathan MacKinnon’s Last Minute Goal Sends Canada Past Finland and Sets Up Highly Anticipated Olympic Hockey Final Against United States in Milan

Milan hosted a thrilling clash at the Winter Olympics as Canada’s men’s hockey team overcame a two-goal deficit to edge Finland 3-2, setting up a potential gold medal showdown with their longtime rivals, the United States.

What began as a tense, uphill battle turned into a display of resilience and skill, proving why Canada remains a dominant force in international hockey.

After falling behind, the Canadian team relied on its NHL stars to turn the tide, echoing their strategy from 2014, when NHL players returned to the Olympics and Canada captured gold in Sochi.

This year, their roster once again leaned on elite talent to fight back against a formidable Finnish side.

Finland Strikes Quickly With a Power-Play Goal

The opening period was a rocky one for Canada.

Finland wasted no time after earning a power play, with Mikko Rantanen scoring just three seconds into the advantage after Sam Bennett was penalized for goaltender interference.

Suddenly, Canada found itself trailing 1-0, scrambling to find an answer.

The second period offered no immediate relief.

Finland’s Erik Haula capitalized on a breakaway, fooling Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington and sliding the puck backhanded past the glove side to make it 2-0.

At that point, Finland had fired only nine shots, but they were enough to give them a dangerous lead.

Canada Mounts a Comeback

Faced with a deficit, Canada turned to their power play for the breakthrough.

Cale Makar unleashed a rocket from the point, which Sam Reinhart redirected past Finnish goalie Jusse Saros to make it 2-1.

Finland seemed content to sit back and let Canada come to them, and the Canadians capitalized on that approach.

Shea Theodore’s sharp shot from the right circle found its way through traffic and past Saros, leveling the score and igniting hope for a Canadian comeback.

With momentum shifting, Finland struggled to regain control.

Canada dominated puck possession, pressing relentlessly and keeping the pressure on the Finnish defense.

The energy on the ice was palpable as fans held their breath, knowing the game could swing at any moment.

MacKinnon Seals a Dramatic Victory

The decisive moment came when Finland’s Niko Mikkola was penalized for high-sticking Nathan MacKinnon.

During the power play, Canada unleashed a flurry of shots, bombarding Saros with relentless attacks.

Each attempt brought them closer to the breakthrough, and in the dying moments, Connor McDavid delivered a perfectly timed cross-ice pass to MacKinnon.

MacKinnon one-timed the puck past Saros with just 35 seconds remaining, completing the comeback and securing a 3-2 win.

The arena erupted as Canada punched its ticket to the gold medal game, demonstrating poise, skill, and the kind of late-game heroics that define Olympic hockey.

What’s Next?

Canada now awaits the winner of Friday evening’s match between the United States and Slovakia.

A potential final against the Americans would reignite one of the sport’s fiercest Olympic rivalries, promising another intense and highly anticipated showdown.

The Canadian team will look to harness the momentum from this dramatic victory as they chase their second Olympic gold since NHL players returned to the Games.

Summary

Canada trailed Finland 2-0 early on but fought back to win 3-2, relying on crucial contributions from Sam Reinhart, Shea Theodore, and Nathan MacKinnon.

NHL stars, including MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, played pivotal roles in the comeback.

The victory sets up a potential gold medal clash with the United States, keeping fans on edge as Canada aims for Olympic hockey glory once again.