Finland bounced back dramatically on Day 3 of the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics, overcoming their initial setback by defeating their longtime rivals Sweden 4-1. After suffering a disappointing 4-1 loss to Slovakia in their opening match, the Finnish team demonstrated remarkable resilience against the Swedes. Meanwhile, the Czechs achieved a strong 6-3 victory over France, and Slovakia triumphed narrowly over Italy with a 3-2 scoreline.
The Finland-Sweden clash was charged with intensity from the start. Finnish goaltender Juuse Saros, who struggled during the first match, made crucial saves early on, including one against Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe. The opening goal came from an unexpected source: Finnish defenceman Nikolas Matinpalo, who scored his first goal of the season following a fortuitous deflection off Swedish goaltender Filip Gustavsson’s stick, putting Finland ahead 1-0. Matinpalo had not played in Finland’s earlier game, marking a pivotal moment for the young player.
Finland extended its lead to 2-0 before the first intermission, despite a lengthy review for a high stick that ultimately favored the Finnish side. In response, Sweden narrowed the gap early in the second period with a powerful goal from Rasmus Dahlin, assisted by Toronto Maple Leafs star William Nylander.
A turning point arrived when Finland’s Mikael Granlund delivered a huge hit on Swedish center Elias Pettersson, sending him crashing into the Finnish bench. Finland capitalized on a penalty they drew when Kaapo Kakko was caught holding, as Joel Armia scored a critical short-handed goal to increase the lead to 3-1. Mikko Rantanen sealed the victory with an empty-netter in the final moments, leaving Sweden with mixed emotions after two matches—one closer than anticipated victory against Italy and a significant loss to their rival.
In other matches, Slovakia continued to show strong form, now sitting atop Group B with six points. They scored first against Italy via a power play, but the Italians fought back, showcasing their capability to challenge higher-ranked teams. Slovakia’s victory keeps them in a favorable position to clinch a bye into the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Czechia’s much-anticipated match against France was anything but uneventful. The Czechs started strong with a 2-0 lead, but a swift response from France, scoring three goals within five minutes of the second period, jolted the game. However, Czechia rebounded quickly, capitalizing on a disastrous French change late in the second, which led to a decisive 3-on-0 goal, shifting the momentum back in favor of the Czechs. They scored twice more early in the third to maintain control and finish the game with a commanding 6-3 victory.
With thrilling performances across the board, the men’s hockey tournament is showcasing intense competition among teams, demonstrating their respective strengths and potential as they strive for glory in Milano Cortina.