Canada Hockey: MacKinnon’s late goal sends team to Olympic gold game

canada hockey surged into the Olympic men’s final after Nathan MacKinnon finished a Connor McDavid setup with 35. 2 seconds remaining, giving Canada a 3-2 semifinal victory over Finland and a spot in Sunday’s gold-medal game at 8: 10 a. m. ET. The comeback win capped a tense game and left lineup questions for the final.

Canada Hockey semifinal: the decisive play

The winning sequence began with a hard-earned possession on the half wall, continued through a sequence behind the net and ended when Connor McDavid found Nathan MacKinnon in a tight seam. MacKinnon one-timed the puck past Juuse Saros with 35. 2 seconds on the clock to put Canada ahead 3-2. The play followed extensive preparations by top players on specialty units that had been built over the past year in other international tune-ups.

Earlier in the game Finland opened the scoring and later added a short-handed goal that made the game 2-0, briefly quieting Canadian supporters. Canada chipped away at the deficit, with Sam Reinhart cutting the lead before the decisive late strike.

canada hockey reaction in Cole Harbour

In Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, where both MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby are from, the late goal ignited a strong local reaction. Community banners honour both players, and the hometown was described as euphoric after the semifinal victory. That community memory also recalls Crosby’s overtime “Golden Goal” in the 2010 Olympic final, a parallel moment often mentioned in local reflections on the latest result.

Local observers noted the emotional lift from MacKinnon’s finish, with residents gathering to watch the match. The win sent broad celebration through the Halifax area and beyond.

What’s next and lineup uncertainty

Canada now advances to the gold-medal game on Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET. Sidney Crosby did not play in the semifinal after sustaining a lower-body injury in Canada’s 4-3 overtime quarterfinal win against the Czech Republic; he has not been ruled out for the final. In Crosby’s absence, McDavid wore the captain’s armband and led the attack, and one notable replacement on the power play was Macklin Celebrini, who logged heavy minutes and produced a high shot total in the semifinal.

Coaching staff have indicated the door remains open for Crosby to return for the final. If he is cleared to play, adjustments to lines and specialty-unit personnel are possible; if not, the team will enter the gold game with the personnel that closed out the semifinal comeback.

Forward look: matchups and momentum

The semifinal win highlighted Canada’s depth and the work on high-leverage sequences that produced the late deciding goal. The team’s momentum from a comeback victory and the presence of its top scorers in critical moments create a clear tactical edge heading into the final. The next key indicator to watch is the official game-day availability of injured players, which will shape special-teams deployment and minutes distribution for the gold-medal matchup.

Key takeaways

• MacKinnon scored with 35. 2 seconds remaining to give Canada a 3-2 semifinal win over Finland.
• Canada plays the Olympic gold-medal game Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET.
• Sidney Crosby did not play the semifinal with a lower-body injury but is not ruled out for the final.