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Instant Reaction: Canada punches ticket to Gold Medal Game with thrilling comeback win vs. Finland
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Photo credit: © James Lang-Imagn Images
David Quadrelli
Feb 20, 2026, 13:12 ESTUpdated: Feb 20, 2026, 13:21 EST
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Welcome back to Instant Reaction, the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to every Vancouver Canucks game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! Today, we’re applying our model to Team Canada’s game against Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Starting Lineup

First Period

The game got off to a very physical start, and that remained for most of the first period. Everyone was finishing their checks, nobody took a shift off, and the game had a real NHL playoff-like feel to it.
Canada was called for too many men on the ice just before the ten minute mark, giving Finland the game’s first power play. Finland managed to generate some good looking chances, but their best — a cross-ice backdoor feed to Markus Granlund — was redirected wide.
After the penalty expired, Canada went back to what I’ve been calling the Triple Mac line with Celebrini-McDavid-MacKinnon. To this point in the game, it had been Tom Wilson in that spot. That line got multiple shifts together to close out the period, and wouldn’t you know it, that was when Canada generated the best looks they had all period.
Sam Bennett took an absolutely puzzling goalie interference penalty with just over three minutes left in the period, putting Finland back on the power play. And on the ensuing faceoff, the puck made its way to Mikko Rantanen, who made no mistake in ripping a shot past Jordan Binnington to open the scoring.
1-0 Finland. 

Second Period

The start of the second period was more than chaotic, as Roope Hintz and Nathan MacKinnon collided with one another and were slow to get up. MacKinnon stayed out, and while changing personnel, Canada controlled the zone for the next few minutes. That was, until Tom Wilson rifled a pass outside of the blue line and killed all the momentum Canada had built. Wilson marginally redeemed himself when he drew a tripping penalty, giving Canada a chance to tie things up on the power play.
Unfortunately, an unfortunate bounce and a miscue from Nathan MacKinnon led to Erik Haula moving in on a breakaway and burying a backhand attempt past Jordan Binnington to stun the Canadians and give Finland a 2-0 lead.
Does this team ever miss Sidney Crosby…
Canada had the majority of the possession from there, but Juuse Saros was absolutely dialled in, and the players in front of him did a tremendous job of clogging the middle and forcing Canada to the outside.
With just over six minutes to go, Anton Lundell got his stick up on Florida Panthers teammate Anton Lundell, giving Canada another power play opportunity. Hopefully this one goes better than the last one…
And it sure did. After more magic from Connor McDavid, who has undoubtedly been Canada’s best player in this tournament, Cale Makar danced at the blue line before letting a shot go, and Vancouver’s Sam Reinhart deflected the shot far side on Juuse Saros.
2-1…
That really felt like a momentum shift for Canada, who had been pressing all period long, albeit to no avail for most of the frame. Finland was certainly on their heels, but got back to bending but not breaking as Canada kept up the pressure to close out the second period, but still found themselves down by one heading into the third.

Third Period

Canada’s plan of “move in on the rush, slide the puck to the middle and hope for the best” wasn’t working, but with the way Finland was defending, the Canadians weren’t left with much other choice.
Finland’s plan, on the other hand, was to wait for Canada to make a mistake or turn the puck over, and strike quickly on the counterattack. In one of these instances early in the third, Jordan Binnington had to make a big save off of Anton Lundell, keeping out what would have been a back-breaking goal for the Canadian side.
Canada kept up the pressure on the Finns throughout the period, getting some good opportunities in the process. Unfortunately, Juuse Saros was more than up to the task in front of him, and Canada had to keep pushing…
And push they did.
With 9:26 left on the clock, BC-born Shea Theodore blasted a slap shot off of Juuse Saros and into the back of the net. Canada was finally, officially, back in this game.
2-2. New ballgame. 
Canada continued their pressure after this, and to be honest, my heart couldn’t really handle this game. Watching the Canucks as a job? Easy peasy. Watching Team Canada? Undoubtedly, the most nervous I’ve been watching a hockey game since the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.
Enough play-by-play. Here’s a tally of who had the best chances to score the go-ahead goal for Canada (ranked in order of how loudly I yelled and how high I jumped up off my couch):
-Mitch Marner
-Nathan MacKinnon (after a huge play from Celebrini)
-Macklin Celebrini
-Nick Suzuki
With 2:35 left, Canada got another power play chance after some phenomenal work in tight from Celebrini and a great backhand attempt by Nathan MacKinnon (and an even greater save from Juuse Saros).
The Canadian power play… I’m honestly speechless. If you didn’t get to watch this game, you missed out on one of the most nerve-wracking hockey games of all time. With everyone watching on the edge of the edge of their seat, MacKinnon blasted home a one-timer after more magic from the Canadian power play and gave Canada a lead with 35 seconds remaining.
Finland challenged the play for offside, and this one was close… BUT STOOD! CANADA WINS! GO CRAZY!!!!!!
What’s your instant reaction to this game?
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