Canada Wins Olympic Hockey Semifinal vs. Finland Amid Sidney Crosby Injury, Updated Men's Bracket

Canada came from behind to beat Finland 3-2 in the men's hockey semifinals at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, securing its spot in Sunday's gold medal game.

After overcoming a 2-0 deficit, Colorado Avalanche superstar forward Nathan MacKinnon scored a power-play goal with 36 seconds remaining in regulation to lift Canada to victory.

The Finns jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal by Dallas Stars winger Mikko Rantanen in the first period and a shorthanded goal by Nashville Predators forward Erik Haula in the second.

Canada answered with a power-play goal from Florida Panthers forward Sam Reinhart in the second period, followed by a game-tying goal by Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Shea Theodore with less than 10 minutes left in the third.

The Canadians were without their captain, Pittsburgh Penguins legend Sidney Crosby, who left the quarterfinal win over Czechia due to a lower-body injury.

Canada still had plenty of firepower—led by forwards MacKinnon, Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks—and it was enough to get past a tough Finland team in a tightly contested game.

Prior to these Games, Canada won gold in each of the past two Winter Olympics at which NHL players were allowed to participate in 2010 and 2014.

The last time the Canadians did not win gold in a best-on-best Olympic tournament was the 2006 Winter Games in Turin, Italy, when they were knocked out by Russia in the quarterfinals.

Canada now has an opportunity to win its third consecutive Olympic gold medal with the inclusion of NHL players, and its fourth in the past five Olympics involving NHL stars.

With Friday's win, Canada also kept alive the possibility of a gold medal clash with the United States, who play Slovakia in the other semifinal on Friday.

Many hockey fans have been excited about the possibility of Canada and the U.S. vying for gold due to the entertainment value of their final game in the Four Nations Face-Off last year, which saw Canada win in overtime.

As for Finland, the loss to Canada spoiled an opportunity to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals in men's hockey.

At the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, which did not feature NHL players, Finland beat the Russian Olympic Committee to win gold for the first time.

Still, Finland could medal in men's hockey for the fifth time in the past six Olympics if it beats the loser of USA vs. Slovakia in the bronze medal game on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Canada awaits the winner of USA vs. Slovakia in the gold medal game, which will be played Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET.