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Nathan MacKinnon (second from left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a game-winning goal against Finland in a 2026 Winter Olympics men's hockey semifinal Friday in Milan, Italy. Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA
Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Canada erased a 2-0 deficit with three unanswered scores to beat Finland on Friday and reach the 2026 Winter Olympics men's hockey gold medal game on Sunday.
Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon found the net with just 36 seconds remaining in regulation to lead the Canadians to the narrow 3-2 triumph at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore tied the score with 9:26 to go in the third period of the rabid comeback.
"You could feel it in the second period," Canada and Florida Panthers forward Brad Marchand told NBC. "We were kinda turning and took it over. It was just a matter of time. Great job by the guys."
The Canadians will meet Team USA or Slovakia in the gold medal game Sunday in Milan. The Americans will battle the Slovakians in the other men's hockey semifinal at 3:10 p.m. EST Friday on the same ice.
"It's a gold medal game at the Olympics," MacKinnon said. "We'll be ready for either team."
Canada outshot Finland 39-17, with a 31-9 edge over the final two periods. Dallas Stars forward Mikko Rantanen gave Finland a 1-0 lead when he beat Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington for first blood with 3:05 remaining in the first period.
The Finns doubled their lead when Nashville Predators forward Erik Haula flicked a backhander behind the St. Louis Blues goalie on a breakaway 3:26 into the second period.
Panthers forward Sam Reinhart finally helped Canada break through when he deflected a shot by Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar past Finland and Predators goalie Juuse Saros with 5:40 remaining in the bridge frame.
Theodore tied the score when he ripped a shot from well behind the circles, beating Saros on his glove side. Star forwards Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks) fed MacKinnon for the dramatic game winner about 8:50 later.
McDavid slid a pass from the right circle to the left, finding MacKinnon. The Avalanche star finished the play by belting a one-timer just behind Saros' right skate.
Saros totaled 36 saves. Binnington made 15 stops for the Canadians. McDavid, who totaled two assists, pushed his tournament point total to a dozen, the most in a single Olympics involving NHL players.
With the loss, Finland advanced to Saturday's bronze medal game, where they will meet the loser of the Team USA-Slovakia semifinal.
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