2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Bronze Medal Game: Slovakia vs. Finland
How to watch
Start time: 2:40 PM EDT / 8:40 PM CET
In Canada: ICI Télé (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem
Friday was a disappointing day for Finland at the Olympics. The team put in a great effort that had it playing better than Canada, containing their superstars with tight checking while also being able to produce offence, getting out to a 2-0 lead early in the second period. Thinking that was enough, they sat back trying to make that lead stand up, and Canada slowly picked away with goals late in the second period, early in the third, and then a winner in the dying seconds of a power play in the final minute of regulation. From sitting in the driver’s seat to make the final for a chance to defend Olympic gold, Finland will now have to recover in a battle for bronze.
Slovakia was never in such a position versus the United States on Friday evening, surrendering a goal early and not getting one of their own until Juraj Slafkovský scored in the third period with his team already trailing 4-0. Quite early on it became clear that the Slovaks would be playing for bronze, and they began preparing for that mentally and also in terms of personnel as goaltender Samuel Hlavaj was removed to keep him fresh for today’s contest.
Finland has had enough success on the international stage over the past decade or so, so it will be disappointed that it came so close to another championship. Slovakia, meanwhile, hasn’t had the same level of success, and a chance to play for bronze with the full participation of NHL players is a great achievement for the nation. For those reasons, Slovakia might be more amped for this game, but the Finns don’t know any other style than a hard-working, tight-checking game, and will offer up a major challenge with an Olympic medal on the line.
