After a tough opening loss, Finland bounced back in a big way Friday, taking down longtime rival Sweden with a convincing 4-1 win that reminded everyone why this team can’t be counted out.
It started with Nikolas Matinpalo, who broke the ice with a point shot that had eyes-clipping the post and finding twine. It was the kind of goal that can shift momentum early, and Finland didn’t waste the opportunity.
Just eight minutes later, Anton Lundell added to the tally, giving the Finns a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission. What made that lead even more impressive?
Much of it came against the run of play. Sweden was pushing, but Finland made their chances count.
The second period saw Finland double down on its defensive grit and opportunistic scoring. Joel Armia buried a short-handed goal-an absolute dagger that swung the game further in Finland’s favor. Mikko Rantanen later put the final nail in the coffin with an empty-netter in the closing seconds, sealing the win and sparking celebrations on the Finnish bench.
Sweden’s lone bright spot came courtesy of Rasmus Dahlin, who ripped home a one-timer off a bouncing feed from William Nylander. It was a slick finish, and Nylander continued to be the engine of Sweden’s offense, following up on his game-winner against Italy earlier in the week. He’s been one of the tournament’s most dynamic forwards so far, and his ability to create under pressure is keeping Sweden in the mix.
One notable development for Sweden came midway through the first period when Oliver Ekman-Larsson was inserted into the lineup. He had dressed for the Italy game but didn’t see the ice. This time, he brought a physical edge in limited minutes-something Sweden could lean on more in their next game against a surging Slovakian squad.
Speaking of Slovakia, they edged Italy 3-2 and now sit atop Group B. That sets the stage for a high-stakes matchup against Sweden on Saturday morning-one that could go a long way in shaping the group standings. Finland will wrap up its preliminary round against Italy, looking to build off the momentum from Friday’s win.
Meanwhile, all eyes will be on the marquee Group A showdown between Canada and Switzerland. Canada looked dominant in a 5-0 rout of Czechia and has quickly emerged as the tournament favorite.
But don’t sleep on Switzerland-they’ve got the depth and structure to challenge the heavyweights and will be looking to make a statement. Czechia, for its part, will try to bounce back against France in what’s shaping up to be a critical game for their tournament hopes.
The preliminary rounds are heating up, and with every goal, hit, and save, the stakes are getting higher. The road to Olympic gold is never easy-but it’s always thrilling.