Team Canada is heading to the gold-medal final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics after a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Finland — but it was anything but smooth.
The semifinal had everything: costly penalties, special teams swings, video review drama, and a late-game hero. In the end, Canada dug deep and found a way.
Bennett’s Early Penalty Puts Canada in a Hole
Sam Bennett found himself at the center of early controversy in the first period. The physical forward took a goaltender interference penalty after crashing into Finnish netminder Juuse Saros. Reports described Bennett colliding with Panthers teammate Niko Mikkola and driving the crease, knocking the net off and igniting a scrum.
It was exactly the kind of over-the-edge moment critics feared when Bennett — added as an injury replacement — was inserted into the lineup.
Finland capitalized instantly. Off a clean faceoff win, Mikko Rantanen ripped home a power-play goal just seconds into the advantage, giving Finland a 1-0 lead. Canada’s faceoff struggles, an ongoing issue throughout the tournament, didn’t help matters.
Already without captain Sidney Crosby (lower-body injury), Canada was chasing the game early.
Reinhart Responds After Finland Extends Lead
The momentum worsened in the second period when Erik Haula scored shorthanded to make it 2-0 Finland.
But Canada answered.
On a power play created by Anton Lundell’s high-sticking penalty against Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart deflected a point shot from Cale Makar at 14:20 of the second period.
It was Reinhart’s first goal of the tournament and a massive one. The power-play marker cut the deficit to 2-1 and shifted the energy. Canada’s power play, which has been productive throughout the Olympics, delivered when needed most.
Despite the early hole, there was a sense Canada had been here before — having rallied in earlier games — and wasn’t about to let this one slip easily.
Theodore Ties It, Tension Rises
Early in the third, an unlikely hero emerged.
Shea Theodore blasted a long-range shot from the blue line that beat Saros clean, tying the game 2-2. It was Theodore’s first goal of the tournament, and it couldn’t have come at a bigger moment.
There was brief concern Finland might challenge the play after contact near the crease involving Marchand, but they opted not to risk a failed challenge and a penalty.
With the score knotted, the intensity ramped up. Every rush felt decisive. Every whistle brought tension.
MacKinnon’s Dagger Sends Canada to Gold
With just 35.2 seconds remaining in regulation and Canada on the power play, Nathan MacKinnon delivered the defining moment.
Taking a feed from Connor McDavid — with Macklin Celebrini also drawing an assist — MacKinnon snapped a shot short side that squeezed past Saros to give Canada a 3-2 lead.
Finland immediately challenged for offside on the zone entry, but video review upheld the call. The goal stood.
That was the difference.
After trailing 2-0 and battling through penalty trouble and adversity, Canada completed the comeback to advance to the gold-medal final.
McDavid, who earlier in the tournament set a record for most points by an NHL player at the Olympics and now sits at 13, summed up the roller coaster afterward: “Putting our country through it. A lot of stressful moments for everyone at home, but you know what, it’s been fun.”
Head coach Jon Cooper offered encouraging news on Crosby’s status: “He’s got a lot better chance of playing in the gold medal game than he did today.”
One game remains. And Canada is still standing.
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