Finland beats Canada 4-2 in IIHF World Championship semifinal to reach final

Finland defeated Canada 4-2 in a semifinal at the 2026 ice hockey world championship on May 30 in Zurich. The win sends Finland into the final against Switzerland and leaves Canada to play Norway for bronze on May 31. Finland trailed 2-1 after the first period but outshot Canada 10-3 in the second and scored three times.

Aleksander Barkov tied the score 49 seconds into the second period. Konsta Helenius scored on a breakaway to give Finland a 3-2 lead, and Aatu Raty scored 1:22 later to make it 4-2. Patrik Puistola scored for Finland at 3:30 of the first period.

Robert Thomas tied the game at 1-1 at 8:17, and Dylan Holloway put Canada ahead 2-1 with 5:34 left in the period. Macklin Celebrini assisted on Holloway’s goal. Barkov finished with a goal and an assist.

Helenius also recorded a goal and an assist. Mikael Granlund had two assists. Justus Annunen made 28 saves. Barkov has three goals and eight assists in the tournament. Canada had goals from Thomas and Holloway.

Jet Greaves made 17 saves. Canada pulled Greaves with 2:43 remaining in the third period. Canada won all of its group games and eliminated the United States in the quarterfinals. The team last won the world championship in 2023 and was upset by Denmark in the 2025 quarterfinals.

Finland has won the world championship four times and last won in 2022. Switzerland is seeking its first title after finishing second in each of the previous two years. Switzerland defeated Norway 6-0 on May 30.

Leonardo Genoni made 20 saves in that game. Mark Scheifele said, “It sucks. ” Macklin Celebrini said, “There were a couple of mental absences and mistakes in the second that cost us. They stuck to their structure.