Last minute goal foils Lions´ gold dream in Milan-Cortina Olympics

Published : 21 Feb 2026, 01:09

DF Report

Erik Haula (L) of Finland competes during the ice hockey men's play-offs semifinal with Canada at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan, Italy, Feb. 20, 2026. PHOTO. Xinhua by Wang Kaiyan.

Canada beat the defending campions Finland by 3 goals to 2 in the semi-finals of the ice hockey at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday foiling the dream of the Lions to win gold for the second consecutive Olympics.

Although the Finns were leading until 50 minutes of the match, the Canadians smashed them in the last few minutes and finally achieved the victory in the final minute of the game.

A powerplay goal by Mikko Rantanen took the lead for Finland at 17^th minute of the match and a short-handed goal from Erik Haula at 24^th minute widened the gap 2-0.

Canada tried to come back and a powerplay goal by Sam Reinhart reduced the gap at 35^th minute and Shea Theodore levelled the score 2-2 at 51st minute.

When both the team were trying to score another powerplay for Canada at the final minutes made the Finns weak and Nathan MacKinnon scored just 36 seconds before end of the match taking the country to the final.

Finland will play with Slovakia on Saturday for bronze while Canada will face the USA on Sunday in the gold medal match.

The USA beat Slovakia by 6-2 in the second semi-finals.