LIVEBLOG: Major clash: Can the Finnish hockey team stand up to Canada in the Olympic semifinals?
The article discusses the upcoming Olympic men's hockey semifinals match between Finland and Canada, highlighting the teams' recent performances and qualifications.
The article details the upcoming men's ice hockey semifinal at the Milano Cortina Olympics, where Finland will face off against Canada. The match is set to take place on Friday at 17:40, and Postimees will cover the game through a live blog. Both teams are coming off particularly intense quarterfinals; Finland made an impressive comeback from a 0-2 deficit against Switzerland, equalizing in the final minutes and ultimately winning in overtime courtesy of Artturi Lehkonen's decisive goal. On the other hand, Canada also faced a challenging match against the Czech Republic, being down 2-3 with eight minutes to go but managing to tie the game and win in overtime through Mitch Marner's heroics.
Finland's journey to the semifinals began with a surprising defeat against Slovakia, where they lost 1-4. However, they bounced back decisively, defeating Sweden 4-1 and crushing Italy 11-0, securing their spot in the quarterfinals with confidence. Canada, showing a dominant form throughout the tournament, has yet to face a loss. They convincingly defeated the Czech Republic 5-0, Switzerland 5-1, and France 10-2 in the group stage, establishing themselves as a formidable opponent in the championship race.
The article also notes that on the other side of the bracket, the USA will compete against Slovakia later in the evening, with a final match set for Sunday and a bronze medal game scheduled for Saturday. This creates a highly competitive atmosphere as countries vie for Olympic glory in ice hockey, with both Finland and Canada seeking a spot in the grand final on Sunday.