Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon delivered in style, scoring 46 seconds apart in the first period to lead Canada to a thrilling 5-3 victory over Finland in the 4 Nations Face-Off semifinals on Monday. Their efforts set the stage for a highly anticipated final against the United States in Boston.
Brayden Point added a goal in the first period, while MacKinnon struck again early in the second. Sidney Crosby sealed the win with an empty-net goal after Finland rallied with three goals in the third. Jordan Binnington made 23 saves, helping Canada hold off the Finnish comeback.
Crosby praised McDavid and MacKinnon for their leadership, saying, “They set the tone right away. Big plays from big-time players.” Head coach Jon Cooper highlighted their selfless play, adding, “We’ve got the best players in the world doing things they’re probably not accustomed to for the benefit of our team.”
Finland’s Mikael Granlund scored twice late in the game, while Esa Lindell also found the net. Kevin Lankinen allowed four goals before being replaced by Juuse Saros, who finished with 14 saves.
Canada now turns its focus to Thursday’s final, a rematch against a U.S. team that defeated them 3-1 in a heated round-robin clash. Crosby called the upcoming game “a great challenge,” with hockey fans eagerly awaiting the high-stakes showdown.
Source: Swifteradio.com
