2026 Winter Olympics Daily: Feb. 21
It’ll be the Olympic final everyone hoped for as Canada and the USA will meet for gold on Sunday.
Day 8 results (Feb. 20):
Canada 3-2 Finland
USA 6-2 Slovakia
About yesterday:
For the second straight game, Canada had to overcome adversity but they found a way to reach Sunday’s final. After they fell behind 2-0 early into the second period, Kooteny Ice alumnus Sam Reinhart’s (FLA) first of the tournament got Canada on the board at 14:20 after a tip out front on the power play. Former Seattle Thunderbirds d-man Shea Theodore (VGK) drew Canada level at 10:34 of the third after he stepped into a one-timer before Halifax Mooseheads legend Nathan MacKinnon (COL) dramatically won the game with only 35.2 seconds left in regulation on a one-time from the left faceoff dot.
As part of the win, Erie Otters alumnus Connor McDavid (EDM) became the single-tournament scoring leader at an Olympics with NHL players as he has 13 points (11 assists) in just five games.
NATHAN MACKINNON SENDS 🇨🇦 TO THE OLYMPIC FINAL‼️ #MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/LwaXxYgk8V
— Canadian Hockey League (@CHLHockey) February 20, 2026
In the second semi-final, the USA jumped out to a 5-0 lead after 40 minutes in a one-way affair against Slovakia. Former London Knight Matthew Tkachuk (FLA) and Plymouth Whaler Vincent Trocheck (NYR) each recorded an assist in the victory.
Medal round schedule:
Bronze medal: Finland vs. Slovakia – Feb. 21 – 2:40pm ET / 11:40am PT
Gold medal: Canada vs. USA – Feb. 22 – 8:10am ET / 5:10am PT
The day ahead:
In Saturday’s bronze medal game, Finland will look to medal for a second straight Olympics. Gold medallists in 2022, the Finns are chasing a seventh Olympic medal and what would be a fifth bronze. They most recently finished third in 2014. As for Slovakia, they look to replicate their result from four years ago where they also finished third to claim the country’s first ever Olympic medal.
In Sunday’s final, Canada are after a 10th Olympic gold medal. Canada have left as champions in the previous two Olympic tournaments that featured NHL players (2010/2014) and regardless of the result will win a 17th Olympic medal. The USA are two-time gold medallists (1960/1980) but haven’t won an Olympic medal since they fell to Canada in the 2010 final.
