Olympic Hockey: MacKinnon's Last-Second Power-Play One-Timer Sends Canada to Gold Medal Game After Dramatic Comeback vs. Finland

In a semifinal that turned on a single, decisive moment, Nathan MacKinnon's late power-play one-timer delivered Canada a 3-2 victory over Finland and a berth in the gold medal game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The finish capped a dramatic comeback and underscored the decisive role of Canada’s power play in the closing minutes.

Olympic Hockey: How the late power play changed the semifinal

Coach Jon Cooper sent out a high-powered unit with 2: 35 remaining in the third period: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Sam Reinhart and Cale Makar. That deployment, assembled from multiple elite playmakers, produced sustained pressure and eventually the game-winning strike. MacKinnon’s one-timer from the left face-off circle with 36 seconds left in regulation completed the comeback and sealed a 3-2 result at Santagiulia Arena.

The power play began with an immediate threat—an early Reinhart chance eight seconds into the advantage that Finland’s goaltender pushed aside. From there the sequence became a rapid exchange of looks and attempts: Makar attempted a one-timer from the point, MacKinnon tested the left circle, McDavid created for Celebrini on a one-timer opportunity, and Makar later set up McDavid for another quick shot. The puck moved quickly across the formation, generating multiple scoring chances before the final play materialized.

What the semifinal sequence reveals about Canada’s approach

Canada’s late-game strategy combined sustained pressure, puck movement and physical board play. After a pass across the middle was redirected, the puck bounded into the corner and initiated a crucial wall battle that preceded MacKinnon’s reward. The coach’s choice to deploy a grouping of elite scorers and a top offensive defenseman for the power play highlighted an aggressive, high-upside gamble that produced the desired result.

• Power-play deployment: started with 2: 35 remaining in third period.
• Key personnel on the unit: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Macklin Celebrini, Sam Reinhart, Cale Makar.
• Critical moments: Reinhart chance eight seconds into the man-advantage; multiple one-timer attempts around the circles and point; final one-timer from the left face-off circle with 36 seconds left.
• Final score and result: Canada 3, Finland 2; Canada advances to the gold medal game.

The match unfolded as one minute and 58 seconds of high-caliber offensive execution followed by two minutes and 10 seconds of anxious, tightly contested play—an ebb that captured both the skill and the tension of elite-level Olympic Hockey.

Implications and what comes next

Canada’s victory punches a ticket into the gold medal game on the final weekend of competition. The late power-play success reinforces the value of deploying top offensive talent in short, decisive windows and signals a reliance on quick puck movement and board battles in clutch situations. The team’s ability to execute under pressure will be a focal point heading into the gold medal matchup.

Details about the opponent in the final and the timing of the gold medal game were set for later in the event schedule. Recent updates indicate this result will shape Canada’s preparation and tactical emphasis for that championship game.