Canada Hockey: MacKinnon's Last-Second Semifinal Winner Propels Team to Olympic Gold Game, Cole Harbour Erupts

canada hockey reached a boiling point when Nathan MacKinnon scored a dramatic late goal to lift Team Canada to a 3-2 victory over Finland in the Olympic semifinal, punching a ticket to the gold medal game on Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET. The result rekindled hometown pride in Cole Harbour and left the roster facing a short, high-stakes turnaround before the championship.

Canada Hockey: MacKinnon's late heroics and the semifinal comeback

The decisive moment arrived in the final minute when MacKinnon finished a decisive play that completed Canada’s comeback. Finland seized an early lead with a short-handed goal in the second period and later extended the advantage to 2-0. Canada chipped away, with Sam Reinhart narrowing the margin to 2-1 in the middle frame.

Late in the game, sustained pressure and a series of hard ends along the wall kept the puck alive and created the chance for the winner. The play culminated with a well-timed finish that turned the scoreboard in Canada’s favor and delivered a 3-2 semifinal victory, sending the team into the gold medal matchup.

Cole Harbour reaction and the wider team picture

The game’s ending prompted immediate scenes of celebration in Cole Harbour, where local banners honor both MacKinnon and the community’s most famous alumnus. Longtime local coaches and fans described a euphoric reaction as neighbourhoods and gathering spots filled to watch the late turnaround.

Team composition and leadership were also in focus. Sidney Crosby was ruled out of the Finland game with a lower-body injury sustained in the quarterfinal overtime win over the Czech Republic, creating an opening in the lineup and on the power play. His availability for the gold medal game has not been ruled out, leaving his status unresolved as the team prepares for its next challenge.

What comes next for canada hockey

With the semifinal behind them, canada hockey now shifts attention to the gold medal game scheduled for Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET. The short window between games will test the team’s recovery protocols and lineup decisions, particularly around the injured players and special teams deployments that were decisive in the semifinal comeback.

• Immediate priorities: recovery, medical evaluation of injured players, and fine-tuning the power play that produced the decisive sequence.
• Momentum: the late winner provides a psychological lift, while the team must guard against fatigue and complacency over a quick turnaround.
• Uncertainty: key player availability remains in flux; final roster and unit combinations may change before puck drop.

Recent updates indicate roster decisions and player statuses may evolve in the hours before the final. The semifinal win framed by MacKinnon’s finish has given canada hockey both a headline-making moment and a short timeline to prepare for the highest-stakes game of the tournament.