Canada vs. Finland live score updates: 4 Nations Face-Off highlights, scenarios, tiebreakers, latest – The Athletic

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Canada has advanced to the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game thanks to a 5-3 win over Finland that was mostly a blowout until things got very tight in the final few minutes.
The win means that Canada will face the United States in Thursday night's title game at TD Garden in Boston in a rematch of Saturday's rival game that began with three fights in the opening nine seconds.
Canada opened the scoring against Finland with two goals in quick succession in the first five minutes. Connor McDavid used a screen to beat Kevin Lankinen before Nathan MacKinnon doubled the lead just 46 seconds later. Brayden Point scored Canada's third goal on a rebound later in the first period.
Just over five minutes into the second period, MacKinnon scored his second goal of the afternoon, launching a one-timer into the back of the net, assisted by Sidney Crosby.
Esa Lindell ensured Finland would not get shut out, scoring in the third period with a shot that hit the far post and went in. Finland, with six attackers on the nice, would score two goals in a span of 23 seconds to make it a one-goal game but Crosby responded with an empty-netter with under a minute remaining to seal Canada's victory.
When it’s over, Sidney Crosby’s career will be remembered for making winning plays in the big crucial moments — for Pittsburgh and his native Canada.
That sequence at center ice to score into the empty net wasn’t luck. He knows where to go before most, works harder to get there, and makes the smart plays that win games.
Others are faster, have a better shot, higher skill. Nobody has his combination of hockey IQ and battle — and he’s doing it right now with one functional arm.
He’s captained some enormously talented teams. But his calm under pressure and recognition of how to manage pressure is what sets him apart.
Team Canada will have as much of a hard time replacing him as the Penguins will.
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A win's a win, and it's a big win for Canada. That's all that matters in the end. But does a near-epic meltdown harsh those vibes at all? Does Jordan Binnington still feel great going into the final against the U.S.? Does Canada still feel great about Jordan Binnington? What a wild ending to that one.
It is set. Canada and the United States will meet Thursday night at TD Garden in Boston to determine the winner of the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Sweden and Finland are both eliminated.
Canada wins 5-3 after a much tighter ending than anyone could have expected when the score was 4-0 with less than seven minutes to go.
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Sidney Crosby: Ruiner of fun. But that was a heck of a collision with Granlund before he popped up and put an end to this one with the empty-netter.
Finland has a legitimate gripe about a non-icing call on that goal. That was a hot puck for Granlund to handle while battling a Canadian player and the linesman.
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Mikael Granlund with two goals in quick succession gives Finland a lifeline nobody expected. If Finland somehow completes the comeback, we’re talking about one of the biggest meltdowns in international tournament history. Sweden would be overjoyed at that result. If these teams go to overtime, the Swedes would still have a fighting chance at making the final on Thursday…
And then Sidney Crosby does THAT. An empty-net goal from distance after running into Granlund quashes any hope of a comeback.
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P3 0:56 – Canada 5, Finland 3
Crosby scores an empty-netter from the neutral zone to push Canada's lead back to two.
Things got real tight there for a bit, but surely Canada will be OK now, right?
P3 1:18 – Canada 4, Finland 3
Granlund scores for the second time in 22 seconds and Finland is within a goal! If they force overtime here, Canada won't be assured of a spot in the championship!
P3 1:40 – Canada 4, Finland 2
A scramble in front of Canada's net and Granlund takes advantage of the chaos to beat Binnington through the five-hole from the slot.
Saros is back in Finland's net as we resume play, but he quickly gets off again.
P3 3:09 – Canada 4, Finland 1
With the extra attacker on, Finland has created a few half-chances in front of Binnington's net but hasn't found a way to score again.
Canada hasn't had a look at an empty-net goal yet.
It's a blowout on the scoreboard, but the underlying numbers tell a different story. Per Natural Stat Trick, Finland should be winning this game. The Finns have 53 percent of the expected goals, and 10 of the 16 high-danger scoring chances. MoneyPuck says Finland wins this game 61 percent of the time based on how it's gone. And that's not all due to Finland playing from behind — Canada actually has had the edge in the third period.
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P3 4:45 – Canada 4, Finland 1
Now that Finland has pulled within three goals, they're going for broke, pulling the goalie Saros and putting on an extra attacker.
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Unless a miraculous comeback is in store, that goal was just too little, too late for the underdog Finns. But they can say they forced Canada into a mistake by forcing a turnover before beating Binnington.
No team has been shut out at this 4 Nations tournament so far.
P3 6:41 – Canada 4, Finland 1
Lindell ensures Finland won't get shut out here, beating Binnington from the bottom of the faceoff circle with a shot that hits the far post and goes in.
Lehkonen made a great play to settle the puck for Lindell.
P3 8:00 – Canada 4, Finland 0
You know you're watching a blowout when the TNT commentators start talking about which hockey executives they saw out to dinner last night.
While it might have been boring for the rest of us, Canada couldn't have asked for more today. Cale Makar, healthy and dominant. Jordan Binnington, sharp and pitching a shutout. Sidney Crosby, taking a couple of faceoffs and handing out another primary assist. Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid, playing like the big dogs they are. Heading into their rematch with the Americans, Canada will be feeling a heck of a lot better than they did two nights ago.
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If you need something to root for while watching the rest of Canada-Finland, why not root for history?
If Nathan MacKinnon scores again, he’ll be the first Canadian with a hat trick at an NHL international tournament since Mario Lemieux had one at the 1987 Canada Cup.
P3 14:25 – Canada 4, Finland 0
Lundell with a good opportunity in transition to get Finland on the board but Binnington makes a strong save to preserve his shutout.
P3 16:00 – Canada 4, Finland 0
It's been all Canada here in the early going of the third period. They haven't created any clear-cut chances but they have had a few passes zip through Saros' crease.

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