San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini set up the decisive goal that propelled Canada into the Olympic gold medal game on Friday. The match took place at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, where Celebrini assisted Nathan MacKinnon’s power play goal with just 35.2 seconds remaining in the third period, securing a 3-2 victory over Finland. This pivotal moment, highlighted by Celebrini’s key pass, ensures Canada’s chance at Olympic gold.
Details of the Winning Play and Officiating Review
On the critical play, Celebrini recovered the puck below the Finnish goal line on the right side, quickly passing it to Connor McDavid, who then threaded a seamless pass to MacKinnon. The Colorado Avalanche forward capitalized on the opportunity, beating Finnish goalie Juuse Saros on the short side with only two seconds left during the power play. Following the goal, Finnish officials challenged the call, disputing whether Celebrini had crossed the offensive blue line prematurely. After a tense review lasting about a minute, officials affirmed the goal, ruling Celebrini was onside by an extremely narrow margin.
Celebrini’s Impact Throughout the Tournament
As the youngest NHL player competing in the Olympic tournament, Celebrini has already made a significant impact. He led all Canadian players in ice time during the semifinal with 25 minutes and 53 seconds, firing eight shots on goal in the game. Over five Olympic contests, Celebrini has recorded ten points, maintaining his position as one of Canada’s most effective offensive players.
“NATHAN MACKINNON IN THE FINAL MINUTE. CANADA HAVE PULLED OFF THE COMEBACK. 🤯” – NBC Olympics & Paralympics
Upcoming Gold Medal Matchup and Team Context
With this win, Celebrini and Team Canada advance to face the winner of the other semifinal match between the United States and Slovakia on Sunday morning. Slovakia’s team features San Jose Sharks winger Pavol Regenda, who has contributed four points in the tournament so far. Canada demonstrated resilience throughout the Finland game, overcoming a goal deficit late in the third period when Shea Theodore scored the equalizer with a shot from just inside the blue line, slipping past Saros with 9:26 remaining.
Game Flow and Key Moments Against Finland
Despite outshooting Finland 14-3 in the second period, Canada trailed 2-1 entering the final frame after both teams exchanged goals on special teams. Early in the second, a Canadian power play mistake — an intercepted pass leading to a Finnish breakaway — allowed Erik Haula to extend Finland’s lead to 2-0 by skillfully beating St. Louis Blues goalie Jordan Binnington on a forehand-to-backhand move. Canada responded immediately on their next power play when defenseman Cale Makar’s point shot was deflected by winger Sam Reinhart, trimming Finland’s lead to one with 5:40 left in the second period.
Celebrini’s Stature Among Team Leaders and Tournament Trends
Celebrini distinguished himself not only with six shots on net through two periods but also by leading all Canadian skaters with nearly 17 minutes of ice time. Finland opened the scoring late in the first period after winning a faceoff during a Canada power play, enabling Mikko Rantanen to shoot a precise goal past Binnington. Throughout the tournament, Celebrini has maintained his role alongside Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid on Canada’s top line, consistently producing strong offensive results.
Performance Highlights and Olympic Records
Heading into the semifinal, Celebrini was tied for second in overall tournament scoring, with nine points, and had already taken the lead with five goals. His achievement of scoring in four consecutive Olympic games with NHL players puts him in elite company as only the fourth player to do so. These contributions underscore his critical role as Canada pursues its sixth Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey.
NATHAN MACKINNON IN THE FINAL MINUTE. CANADA HAVE PULLED OFF THE COMEBACK. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/3jMB2EWWfU
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026
