In Day 8 of the Olympic men’s hockey tournament, the Semi-Final round showcased an intense matchup between Joel Armia’s Team Finland and Drew Doughty’s Team Canada. Canada emerged triumphant, securing a spot in the finals after Nathan MacKinnon netted the decisive goal with just 36 seconds left in regulation. Armia contributed with an assist on Erik Haula’s goal, logging 11:42 minutes of ice time, while Doughty, who spent 7:53 minutes on the ice, did not register any points.
With the outcomes of the Semi-Finals, the stage is set for the upcoming Bronze medal game, where Finland will take on Slovakia at 2:30 P.M. ET (8:30 P.M. local time). Following their close encounter with Canada, Finland enters the matchup with a sense of confidence, while Slovakia comes in as the underdog, looking to make their mark.
Armia has been an integral part of Team Finland throughout the tournament, tallying five points (two goals, three assists) in five games, which places him tied for second on the team. His contributions have extended to the penalty kill, where he played a key role in thwarting formidable power plays, including that of Canada. Armia’s performance in the Bronze medal game will be crucial, as he aims to provide depth scoring and leverage his defensive prowess to help secure Finland a medal.
Although the team may have aspired for a gold, a potential Bronze medal would still be a remarkable achievement for Armia, who could return to the Los Angeles Kings with the honor of having participated in a successful Olympic campaign. With both determination and skill, Finland has a promising chance to claim the Bronze, showcasing resilience and fighting spirit on the ice.