Brad Marchand in the mix after MacKinnon’s last-second power-play lifts Canada 3-2

brad marchand appears in the postgame chatter after Canada rallied to beat Finland 3-2 in the Olympic men's hockey semifinal, a match decided by Nathan MacKinnon's power-play goal with 36 seconds left that sent Canada to the gold medal game.

Finland’s defensive shell cracked late

Finland built a 2-0 lead early in the second period when Erik Haula scored short-handed after Joel Armia’s physical play against Sam Reinhart, but the Finns then retreated into a tight defensive posture. That conservatism produced only two shots on goal over the last 17 minutes of the second period and left them outshot 39-17 for the game. Canada pressured the Finnish slot repeatedly and forced the play back into the attacking zone until the tide turned.

Brad Marchand

Shea Theodore tied the game with an equalizer at 9: 26 of the third period, and Nathan MacKinnon finished the comeback on the power play with 36 seconds remaining, giving Canada the 3-2 victory. The result sent Canada to the gold medal game and relegated Finland to the bronze medal contest.

Players, tactics and the deciding moments

Finland’s game plan — quick clears, tight one-and-done defending and a reliance on a low-risk approach — worked to build the early lead but stalled when Canada intensified its attack. The Finns collapsed in the slot and repeatedly flipped pucks out of danger rather than forcing plays up ice; Canada’s sustained pressure turned turnovers into scoring chances. Teuvo Teräväinen said it was difficult to change that defensive posture under the circumstances, noting that Canada’s push made players reluctant to risk a mistake that could produce a three-on-two break.

The sequence that produced Haula’s short-handed goal originated from Joel Armia’s heavy play on Sam Reinhart, and Canada’s late goals came from a sustained offensive surge capped by a power-play finish. The game’s shot totals — 39 for Canada, 17 for Finland — and the late timing of MacKinnon’s blast underscored how the contest swung in Canada’s favor only after prolonged pressure.

brad marchand is part of the wider conversation surrounding Canada’s forward group in the aftermath, though the decisive plays of this semifinal were credited to Theodore and MacKinnon. The win advances Canada into the tournament final; Finland will play for bronze.

Next on the schedule: Canada moves on to the Olympic gold medal game, and Finland will appear in the bronze medal game.