Finland Hockey retreat costs Finns in 3-2 Olympic semifinal loss to Canada
Finland’s defense-first play — the core of finland hockey — backfired late, turning a 2-0 lead into a 3-2 defeat to Canada in the Olympic men’s hockey semifinal and sending Finland to the bronze-medal game.
Canada erased the deficit when Shea Theodore scored at 9: 26 of the third period, and Nathan MacKinnon finished the comeback with a power-play goal with 36 seconds left, delivering a 3-2 victory that sent Canada to the gold-medal game and moved Finland into the bronze-medal game.
Finland built a lead, then tightened up
Erik Haula gave Finland the early cushion with a short-handed goal that made it 2-0 early in the second period after Joel Armia’s manhandling of Sam Reinhart set up the chance; after that goal the Finns largely retreated into a defensive shell and tried to protect the lead. They had two shots on goal over the last 17 minutes of the second period and were outshot 39-17 in the game, and they rarely tested Canada’s netminder Jordan Binnington during the late push.
Finland Hockey mindset strained as Canada surged late
The Finns’ conservative approach — the same penalty-killing, Wedge Plus One–style defense that has defined them — held up for long stretches but ultimately let Canada regroup and press. Teuvo Teräväinen said, “It’s hard not to. They’re pushing, they’re coming (and) you don’t want to make mistakes and you (don’t) want to give them three-on-twos and that kind of stuff. ” Erik Haula added that the bench chatter was “how we can’t just defend, ” but Finland stayed in protect mode and Canada’s attackers kept bringing the pressure.
Late goals and immediate consequences
Shea Theodore’s equalizer at 9: 26 of the third erased Finland’s two-goal lead, and Nathan MacKinnon’s power-play goal with 36 seconds left completed the comeback and sealed the 3-2 result. The loss ended Finland’s bid for the gold-medal game and advanced Canada to that final; Finland will now play in the bronze-medal game.
Finland had earned its 2-0 edge by restricting Canada to one-and-done possessions, making quick clears and outworking Canada’s forecheck earlier in the contest, but the shift to a defensive posture allowed Canada to seize control and generate the decisive scoring chances.
The next confirmed events are the gold-medal game, which Canada will play in, and the bronze-medal game, in which Finland will compete.
