The men’s hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan promised drama, and boy, did it deliver. In a game packed with intensity, tactical chess, and emotional twists, Team Canada clawed back from a two-goal deficit to defeat Finland 3-2, punching their ticket to the gold medal game. The victory, achieved with just 35.2 seconds left on the clock, was a testament to Canada’s resilience, leadership, and Olympic pedigree—even as they skated without their iconic captain, Sidney Crosby.
Friday’s puck drop at Palaltalia, Milan, came with high stakes and heavy expectations. Canada entered the matchup as the -430 favorite (per FanDuel Sportsbook), while Finland, fresh off a 3-2 overtime win over Switzerland in the quarterfinals, were listed at +330. The over/under for total goals was set at 5.5, and expert predictions, including those from Matthew Severance—who entered the Olympics on a 26-12 NHL money-line run—suggested a tight, low-scoring affair. Severance himself recommended taking the Under 5.5 goals, highlighting the defensive prowess and history between these two storied hockey nations.
History, in fact, weighed heavily on this contest. Canada and Finland had met 27 times in previous Olympic and World Championship play, splitting the series at 13 wins apiece, with Finland holding a slight edge in total goals. The last six meetings had been split evenly, underscoring just how evenly matched these sides have become in international hockey.
But as the teams lined up for the national anthems, all eyes turned to the Canadian bench—and the absence of Sidney Crosby. The 38-year-old legend, chasing a third Olympic gold, was sidelined after suffering a lower-body injury in Wednesday’s thrilling 4-3 overtime quarterfinal win against Czechia. Crosby had left that game in the second period and, despite undergoing an MRI that ruled out the worst-case scenario, was seen in a walking boot on Friday. Coach Jon Cooper addressed the situation candidly: “We’ve got the best of the best looking at him. We’re not going to put anyone in harm’s way. But if [Crosby] can play, he’s definitely going to.”
With Crosby out, the captaincy fell to Connor McDavid, who steered Canada through stormy waters. The game started ominously for the favorites. Finland struck first, capitalizing on a Sam Bennett goalie interference penalty. Mikko Rantanen ripped a one-timer top corner on the ensuing power play, giving Finland a 1-0 lead. The Finns doubled their advantage midway through the second period when Erik Haula seized a broken play and raced in short-handed, beating Canadian goalie Carter Hart for a 2-0 edge. “It was a broken play. I had a good read on it. I was able to step on all the way and come in full speed,” Haula later explained. “I’m disappointed, sad, upset. A lot of emotions. I feel flat. I don't know how to explain it.”
Down but not out, Canada responded with relentless pressure. Sam Reinhart broke the shutout late in the second period, giving the Canadians a much-needed spark. “We got a big first goal so we could take a breath, we were only down one,” said coach Jon Cooper. “I thought that if we got the next one I’d like our chances. Pretty exciting game but they’ve given their coach heart palpitations.”
Canada’s adjustments in the third period proved decisive. With Finland collapsing defensively to protect their lead, the Canadians began funneling pucks to the point, searching for tips and rebounds. The breakthrough came when Shea Theodore blasted a shot from the blue line, beating Finnish netminder Juuse Saros to tie the game at 2-2. The equalizer set the stage for a frenetic finish, with both teams trading chances and the crowd buzzing with anticipation.
As the clock ticked down, a high-sticking penalty against Finland’s Niko Mikkola handed Canada a late power play. With just over half a minute remaining, Nathan MacKinnon found space and fired the puck past Saros for the game-winning goal. Finland’s coach Antti Pennanen immediately challenged the play for offside, but after review, the goal stood. “It was a tight situation and a tough call, but we thought it was offside,” Pennanen said. “The (second goal) was a good goal, a good call.”
The final horn set off wild celebrations on the Canadian bench. Drew Doughty, one of two players (alongside Crosby) chasing a third Olympic gold, reflected on the team’s motivation: “Before the game, it is something we talked about. We want Sid to have another opportunity to play and hopefully win another gold medal.”
Connor McDavid, who wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence, summed up the emotions of the moment: “It’s amazing. A crazy game. Two crazy games to get to this point. I feel incredibly grateful to be in the final. Just a slow grind. Slowly but surely we found a way. Going two down is never ideal, especially against such a team like Finland. It took all 40 minutes, 60 minutes, to get it done.”
The Finns, for their part, were left to rue a missed opportunity but showed grace in defeat. “We played against a really good team. We got a great start, got the lead. We were defending really well throughout the game, but obviously they got a couple of goals on the power play,” said Mikael Granlund. “I'm really proud of all of us, but at the same time, we got a chance. We really did. We played great hockey against a really good team. We were a bit short tonight. This is hockey.” Goaltender Juuse Saros added, “It's still a medal. You want to bring something home. Obviously we're going to give everything we've got.”
Team Canada’s depth was tested throughout the tournament—not just with Crosby’s absence, but also with injuries to key defenseman Josh Morrissey, who missed the game and forced coach Cooper to shuffle his pairings. Bo Horvat, initially Canada’s top penalty killer, saw his role diminish as Nick Suzuki stepped up, while Thomas Harley filled in admirably on defense. Every adjustment mattered in a contest where one mistake could spell the end of Olympic dreams.
The win sets up a gold medal showdown for Canada against the winner of the United States vs. Slovakia, scheduled for Sunday. For Finland, the focus shifts to the bronze medal game, where pride and a place on the podium are still at stake. As the dust settles in Milan, one thing is clear: Olympic hockey remains one of the sport’s greatest stages, where legends rise and the margin for error is razor-thin.