Finland claims Olympic bronze with a crushing 6-1 win over Slovakia
Finland secured the bronze medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a decisive 6-1 win over Slovakia. The victory followed a tough semifinal loss to Canada just one day earlier.
Oliver Kapanen, part of Finland's top line, helped clinch the podium finish in Milano Cortina.
Finland entered the bronze medal game after falling to Canada 2-1 in the semifinals on February 20. The team regrouped quickly, facing Slovakia the next day with a clear target.
Against Slovakia, Finland dominated early and kept pressure high. By the third period, two empty-net goals stretched their lead to 6-1. Sebastian Aho, Artturi Lehkonen, and Kapanen formed the first line, driving much of the attack.
Kapanen, 21, logged 16:23 of ice time in the match. He recorded one shot on goal and finished with a plus-1 rating. The win marked his first Olympic medal, adding to Finland's strong tournament run.
Slovakia's Juraj Slafkovsky wrapped up the competition with eight points (four goals, four assists) in six games. Despite the loss, his performance stood out as one of the tournament's highlights.
Meanwhile, Canada and the United States will meet again in the gold medal final. The rematch follows their clash in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, with Nick Suzuki leading Canada's push for the title. All matches are available to watch on CBC/CBC Gem and Radio-Canada/ICI TOU.TV.
Finland's 6-1 victory over Slovakia confirmed their place on the Olympic podium. The team leaves Milano Cortina with bronze after six hard-fought games.
For Slovakia, the tournament ends with Slafkovsky's standout scoring record, while Canada and the US now prepare for the gold medal showdown.
