The Olympic hockey tournament at Milan-Cortina is heating up as four teams vie for two coveted gold medal spots. The semifinals will feature Canada facing Finland and the United States against Slovakia on Friday. The matches are critical for all teams as they aim to secure a place in the finals.
Semifinal Matchups
On Friday, the Canadian team will confront Finland at 10:40 AM on RDS2, while the United States will take on Slovakia at 15:10 PM on the same network. Both matches promise to showcase high-level competition and intense rivalries.
Canada vs. Finland
- Canada has been the tournament favorite, aiming for its first Olympic final since 2014.
- Mitch Marner, Artturi Lehkonen, and Quinn Hughes emerged as key players in the quarterfinals.
- Star player Sidney Crosby may miss the match due to a lower body injury.
- Canada defeated Finland 5-3 recently in a four-nation competition.
Connor McDavid is currently the tournament’s leading scorer, with 11 points in just four games, matching Saku Koivu’s and Teemu Selanne’s Olympic records. McDavid looks to break this record against Finland.
Finland’s Performance
- The reigning Olympic champions, Finland, are aiming to continue their winning streak after overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Switzerland.
- They qualified for the semifinals with three consecutive wins after a rough start in the tournament.
- Mikko Rantanen and Artturi Lehkonen are currently tied as Finland’s top scorers with five points each.
United States vs. Slovakia
The other semifinal features the United States facing Slovakia, with the latter seeking its first gold medal appearance since its Olympic debut in 1994. Slovakia’s best previous finish was winning a bronze medal in 2022.
- Juraj Slafkovsky is a standout player for Slovakia, leading the team with seven points in four matches.
- The U.S. team last reached the finals in 2010 and looks to bounce back following their previous Olympic efforts.
Key Players and Goalies
Auston Matthews leads the U.S. team’s scoring effort with three goals and six points alongside Quinn Hughes. In goal, Connor Hellebuyck has been vital, boasting a .958 save percentage. On the Slovakia side, Samuel Hlavaj has faced 118 shots in the tournament, achieving a .932 save percentage.
As these teams prepare for the semifinals, anticipation builds for the exciting hockey ahead at Milan-Cortina. Will Canada claim its spot in the final? Can Finland defend its title? Only time will tell.
