Third Period Surge Powers Finland to Olympic Bronze at Milano-Cortina

Although the battle for gold at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics is yet to be decided, Finland delivered a statement performance in a 6-1 victory over Slovakia to achieve the bronze medal. Slovakia had previously defeated Finland 4-1 in the Preliminary Round on February 11th, but the rematch today told a different story. Finland entered the game as the fourth seed, while Slovakia was the third seed for the playoff round, suggesting an even battle on the ice. 

A Close Game Before Finland’s Breakthrough

Despite the lopsided final score, the game was far closer than it appears. Heading into the third period, it was still anyone’s game. Until the halfway point through the third period, shots on goal were nearly even at 27 for Finland and 26 for Slovakia, and Finland held a narrow 2-1 lead. Both teams brought forth quality playmaking shifts and an intense physical edge, clearly fueled by national pride, passion, and a medal on the line.

Finland Capitalizes on Powerplay Goal

Ultimately, left-wing Roope Hintz's power-play goal at 08:27 in the third period sparked a scoring surge for Finland. The 3-1 lead was immediately extended when right wing Kaapo Kakko scored less than a minute later, taking advantage of a Slovak misplay to capitalize on a breakaway opportunity. Despite two power-play opportunities for Slovakia during this period, the team was unable to find the back of the net. With the clock ticking, Slovakia attempted to lessen the three-goal deficit by pulling goaltender Samuel Hlavaj for an extra attacker. This risk backfired, as right-wing Joel Armia buried an empty-net goal, followed by a second empty-net by left-wing Erik Haula, his second goal of the game, to seal the victory. 

Notable Achievements

After forward Sebastian Aho opened the scoring in the first period, he became tied for the second-most goals at four goals. Aho led Finland in scoring throughout the tournament, trailing only forward Macklin Celebrini, who scored five goals for Canada. This impressive statistic highlights the talent and effectiveness of National Hockey League goal scorers on the international stage. As the Olympics come to an end and the NHL season resumes, the renewed sense of national pride, along with a change in scenery and team dynamic will hopefully transfer into the remaining NHL season.