The stakes couldn’t be higher this Friday, February 20, 2026, as the hockey world gears up for a monumental clash at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. A spot in the gold medal game is on the line when Team Canada takes on Team Finland in the men’s ice hockey semifinals. Whether you are cheering from North America or tuning in abroad, you won’t want to miss a second of this highly anticipated matchup.
Broadcast Times and Channels
The puck drops on Friday morning at exactly 10:40 a.m. ET (7:40 a.m. PT).
- In Canada: You can catch the game live on traditional television via CBC, TSN1, and Sportsnet. If you prefer to stream the action, it is available on CBC Gem, TSN+, and Sportsnet+.
- In the USA: American fans can watch the game on television on the USA Network, or stream the entire broadcast live on Peacock.
Understanding Regional Blackouts for Olympic Hockey
If you are used to the NHL regular season, you might be worried about regional blackouts. However, Olympic hockey broadcasting works a bit differently. Because national broadcasters (like CBC in Canada and NBCUniversal in the USA) hold exclusive nationwide rights to the Games, standard local market blackouts do not apply. As long as you have a subscription to the aforementioned networks or their streaming services, you will be able to watch the game from coast to coast without any geographical restrictions.
Team Canada vs Team Finland: Olympic History, Stats, and Key Injuries
Both of these hockey powerhouses boast incredibly rich Olympic histories. Team Canada has been a dominant force since the sport’s Olympic inception, racking up an incredible 16 medals in men’s hockey: 9 Gold, 4 Silver, and 3 Bronze. Team Finland, often celebrated for their structural discipline and legendary “sisu” (resilience), holds an all-time international record of 692 wins, 337 losses, and 156 draws. The Finns have captured 7 Olympic medals, including 1 Gold (won recently in 2022), 2 Silver, and 4 Bronze.
When it comes to all-time Olympic scoring, Finland boasts the greatest of all time: Teemu Selänne, who holds the ultimate Olympic record with an astonishing 43 points. For Team Canada, Sidney Crosby just recently broke Jarome Iginla’s record to become Canada’s all-time points leader in Olympics featuring NHL players (16 points).
Previous Game Results & Key Injuries
Both teams barely survived the quarterfinals to get here. Team Canada squeaked past Czechia 4-3 in overtime, courtesy of a brilliant game-winning goal by Mitch Marner. Meanwhile, Team Finland mounted a thrilling late comeback to defeat Switzerland 3-2 in overtime.
The biggest storyline heading into Friday is the health of Canada’s captain. Sidney Crosby suffered a right knee injury in the quarterfinal against Czechia and left the game. His status against Team Finland remains highly uncertain, leaving superstars like Connor McDavid—who already has an incredible 11 points this tournament—to shoulder the offensive load.
My Personal Insight and Game Prediction
As I look at this matchup, I can’t help but feel nervous for the Canadians if Sidney Crosby is sidelined. Losing your captain and veteran anchor against a defensively suffocating team like Finland is a massive blow. I’ve watched the Finns expertly trap teams in the neutral zone all tournament, but I also believe Connor McDavid is playing hockey from another planet right now. In my view, Canada’s overwhelming speed will eventually break through Finland’s disciplined structure. I’m predicting a hard-fought, nail-biting 3-1 victory for Team Canada, with the final goal being an empty-netter to seal their trip to the gold medal game.
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