Canada finally made it to the final. © ANSA / FAZRY ISMAIL

Thanks to MacKinnon: Canada turns semi-final thriller around

Even without injured superstar Sidney Crosby, top favorite Canada is in the ice hockey final of the Winter Olympics thanks to a last-minute goal by Nathan MacKinnon.

February 20, 2026

From: dpa

Against the 2022 Olympic champions Finland, the NHL superstars led by Connor McDavid had a tough time in Friday's semifinal, ultimately winning 3-2 (0-1, 1-1, 2-0). Sam Reinhart (35th minute) of Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on the power play, defenseman Shea Theodor (51st minute) of the Vegas Golden Knights, and Colorado's MacKinnon with 35 seconds remaining turned the game around.

Mikko Rantanen (17th minute) of the Dallas Stars and Erik Haula (24th minute) of the Nashville Predators, playing shorthanded, had put the Finnish defensive artists 2-0 ahead.

Mikko Rantanen (right) scored the opening goal for Finland. © APA/afp / JULIEN DE ROSA

This gives superstar McDavid the chance to finally win a team competition on Sunday (2:10 p.m.). The 29-year-old teammate of Leon Draisaitl on the Edmonton Oilers is considered the best player in the world, but like the German Olympic captain Draisaitl, he has never won a major trophy with a team. Last summer, the Oilers lost the Stanley Cup Final to Florida.

Will McDavid finally win a title?

McDavid captained Canada on Friday, as Crosby was injured in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime quarterfinal win against the Czech Republic. As is customary, no further details about the condition of the 38-year-old Olympic champion from 2010 and 2014 were released afterward.

The Canadian superstars struggled against the Finns, who, as always, played a tough game. Canada conceded the first goal while shorthanded and then a second goal during their own power play in the second period. Canada's coach, Jon Cooper, reacted by putting his star forwards McDavid, MacKinnon, and Macklin Celebrini on the same line.

McDavid captained Canada to the final. © APA/afp / JULIEN DE ROSA

Playing with a man advantage, they narrowed the gap to 1-2. In the final period, a slapshot from Theodor brought the deserved equalizer. With 35 seconds remaining, MacKinnon scored the game-winner for Canada. The Canadian referees, who were rather unusually assigned to the game, correctly rejected a Finnish protest regarding an alleged offside call.

Olympic ice hockey, semi-final

Canada – Finland 3:2
Goals: 0:1 Rantanen (16.55), 0:2 Haula (23.26), 1:2 Reinhart (34.20), 2:2 Theodore (50.34), 3:2 MacKinnon (19.24)

USA – Slovakia (9:10 PM)