canada keert terug van twee doelpunten achterstand voor historische overwinning
Milaan, vrijdag, 20 februari 2026.
In een adembenemende halve finale op de Olympische Spelen in Milaan draait canada een 2-0 nederlaag om naar een 3-2 zege tegen finland. nathan mackinnon scoort de winnende treffer op minder dan veertig seconden voor afloop. dit is de eerste keer dat een land met nhl-spelers twee achtereenvolgende komafkomsten haalt in één olympisch toernooi. het duel markeert ook het einde van de olympische carrière van kapitein sidney crosby door blessureleed. canada plaatst zich voor de gouden medaillewedstrijd op 22 februari.
comeback victory secures gold medal berth
Canada overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Finland 3-2 in the men’s ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Nathan MacKinnon scored the decisive goal with just 35.2 seconds remaining in regulation during a power play opportunity [1]. Earlier, Finland took control through a power-play goal by Mikko Rantanen and a short-handed strike from Erik Haula [1]. Canada’s resilience marks the first instance of consecutive playoff comebacks achieved by a team in an Olympics featuring NHL players [1]. The dramatic win propels Canada into the gold medal game scheduled for February 24, 2026 [1].
key performances and tactical shifts
Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore leveled the score for Canada after trailing 2-0, setting the stage for MacKinnon’s late heroics [1]. Connor McDavid, Connor Bedard, and rookie sensation Connor Celebrini applied relentless offensive pressure, with Celebrini logging a team-high 26 minutes and registering eight shots on goal [1]. Despite solid Finnish goaltending and defense, their offensive output stalled after the initial surge, managing only 17 shots overall [1]. Analysts noted Finland’s conservative approach in the final frame backfired significantly against Canada’s faster-paced attack [1]. Jordan Binnington stopped all but two shots despite limited action [1].
end of an era for crosby
Sidney Crosby did not participate in the semifinal due to an injury sustained during Canada’s match against the Czech Republic on February 18, 2026 [1]. His absence marked the likely end of his Olympic career, concluding a legacy that includes pivotal roles in Canada’s gold medal victories at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 [1]. While officially not confirmed as retirement, the emotional weight surrounding his non-participation suggested a symbolic passing of the torch [1]. Team captaincy duties shifted seamlessly amid the crisis, highlighting depth and leadership continuity within the squad preparing for the upcoming gold medal showdown [1].
path ahead and historical context
By reaching the final, Canada ensures at least a silver medal, continuing their dominance in international men’s hockey whenever NHL participation is secured [1]. Their previous appearances in gold medal matches under NHL involvement resulted in victories in 2010 and 2014 [1]. The opponent in the championship game will be determined by the outcome of the USA versus Slovakia semifinal [1]. Meanwhile, Finland faces Slovakia or the United States for the bronze medal [1]. This edition of the tournament also concludes competitive careers for numerous winter sports legends, including Mikaël Kingsbury and Kaori Sakamoto [3].