Canada advances to gold medal game with 3rd-period rally over Finland

Nathan MacKinnon scored with 36 seconds remaining in regulation, leading Canada to a 3-2 victory over Finland. Canada advanced to the gold medal game of the men’s hockey tournament, where it will face the winner of the United States-Slovakia semifinal.

MacKinnon drew a high-sticking penalty on Finland’s Niko Mikkola and capitalized on the error on the ensuing power play, wiring a shot that trickled past Juuse Saros.

Canada was forced to rally from a 2-0 deficit. Mikko Rantanen opened the scoring on the power play for Finland during the first period, after Sam Bennett took an ill-advised goaltender interference penalty. Sebastian Aho won the ensuing faceoff back to Rantanen, who ripped a shot past Jordan Binnington for the 1-0 lead.

Erik Haula added a short-handed marker in the second period, bursting down the ice on a partial breakaway. Canada couldn’t generate any meaningful offence and appeared to be in dire straits, until Sam Reinhart tipped a shot from Cale Makar on the power play, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, Canada was pushed to the brink. Shea Theodore tied the game 10 minutes in the third frame, beating Saros cleanly from the point. There was a possibility of goaltender interference, with Brad Marchand colliding with Saros, but no penalty was called.

Connor McDavid extended his tournament scoring lead with two assists. McDavid operated as Canada’s captain, with Sidney Crosby out of the lineup due to injury. Nick Suzuki took Crosby’s place on the third line, with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone on the wings. It was another standout game from McDavid, and Macklin Celebrini, who lead Canada in shots, and was a force to be reckoned with on every shift.

After a dominant showing in the preliminary round, Canada required a Mitch Marner overtime goal to defeat Czechia in the quarterfinals, before being pushed to the brink against Finland. It should be a thrilling gold medal regardless of opponent, with Auston Matthews looking to steer the United States to a rematch of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off final.