The dream final at the 2026 Winter Olympics is perfect: The USA meet arch rivals in the final Canada!
Canada had already made up a deficit against the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals and saved themselves into extra time with a late equalizer. There the “Maple Leaves” had the upper hand with 4:3. Things were similarly dramatic in the semi-finals. The Canadians recorded a clear increase of 39:17 shots on goal, but for a long time they had to bite their teeth into the strong Finnish goalie Juuse Saros.
The Finns defended courageously, but received a two-minute penalty from Niko Mikkola for a high stick two and a half minutes before the end. MacKinnon took advantage of this 36 seconds before the end after a pass from top scorer Connor McDavid. The goal also withstood a possible offside challenge from Canada’s young star Macklin Celebrini. The 19-year-old, still the tournament’s best scorer with five goals, was able to celebrate with his teammates.
Crosby is missing, McDavid with a record
The favorite fell behind in the first third thanks to a goal from Mikko Rantanen just three seconds after the start of a power play (17th). Finland’s Erik Haula went up short (24th), but Sam Reinhart brought the record Olympic champion back up (35th). In the final period, Shea Theodore equalized with a slap shot (51′). After that, Canada pushed harder and harder for the early decision.
Crosby was missing due to an injury he sustained after several hard checks on him in the duel with the Czechs. After the semi-finals, Canada’s team boss Jon Cooper left it open whether the 38-year-old would be able to take part in the final. “He definitely has a better chance than he did for this game.” Crosby decided the last Olympic final between Canada and the USA in overtime in Vancouver in 2010. The all-time great also won gold with the Canadians in Sochi in 2014, at the last tournament until Milan with the participation of stars from the National Hockey League (NHL).
McDavid represented Crosby as captain against the Finns. The 29-year-old, who also leads the NHL scoring charts, now has 13 scorer points in the tournament after two more assists. This is a new Olympic record. So far, the two Finns Teemu Selänne and Saku Koivu have held the record together with McDavid with eleven points each in 2006. Celebrini can also achieve this value in the final, he holds ten points.
The US cracks don’t have scorers in these spheres in their ranks, but after a confident success against Slovakia, they are dreaming of their first Olympic gold since the “Miracle on Ice” against the Soviet Union in 1980. The USA pushed the Slovaks, who were surprisingly strong during the tournament, onto the defensive right from the start. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring in the 5th minute. In addition, Tage Thompson in the power play (20th), Jack Hughes with a brace (33rd, 39th), Jack Eichel (33rd) and Brady Tkachuk (51st) were successful for the USA.
After two thirds the Americans were already leading 5-0, and in the final period Juraj Slafkovsky (45th) and Pavol Regenda (54th) managed to make some cosmetic gains. The bronze medal game will take place on Saturday (8:40 p.m.). Slovakia came third in Beijing in 2022 after losing in the semi-finals against eventual Olympic champion Finland. In the group phase of the current tournament, the Slovaks beat the Finns 4-1.
Source: APA
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