Finland Sets New Olympic Men’s Hockey Goal Record with NHL Players

Casey Halston

Published: February 14, 2026 5:14 PM ET

Finland Sets New Olympic Men’s Hockey Goal Record with NHL Players

Team Finland made history in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament with a spectacular 11-0 victory over Italy. This game marked a significant milestone by setting records for the most goals in a single game and the largest margin of victory during the NHL player participation era.

Historic Victory in Group B Play

The match took place during Finland’s final Group B round robin contest. With this win, Finland secured its position as a potential No. 4 seed in the upcoming quarterfinals. This success was critical, as it allows them to avoid the qualification round, providing additional rest before the next stage of the tournament.

Key Moments in the Match

First Period: Sebastian Aho ignited the scoring just under seven minutes into the game. He was quickly followed by Mikael Granlund and Kaapo Kakko, ending the period with a 3-0 lead.
Second Period: Joel Kiviranta started the second period with a goal, paving the way for Kakko and Granlund to each score again, extending Finland’s lead to 6-0.
Third Period: The Finns didn’t stop there. Miro Heiskanen, Artturi Lehkonen, Aho, Joel Armia, and Kiviranta contributed to five more goals, reaching the record-setting margin of 11.

Implications of the Victory

This commanding win clinched the group for Team Slovakia, who qualified based on head-to-head goal differential in a three-way tiebreaker. Earlier on Saturday, Slovakia limited their deficit against Team Sweden, which also played a role in securing their spot.

Finland’s Group Stage Performance

Finland concluded the group stage with two regulation victories and one unexpected loss. They suffered their only defeat against Slovakia but rebounded with a significant win over archrival Sweden. This performance sets them up favorably in the tournament as they advance to the quarterfinals with momentum on their side.

Overall, Finland’s recent achievements highlight their strength in men’s Olympic hockey, particularly with NHL players participating, and set the stage for an exciting remainder of the tournament.