Friday marked the third day of men’s ice hockey action at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026, and the tournament intensity continued to rise with four compelling group-stage matchups. Rivalries, redemption efforts, and statement performances defined the day as teams continued jockeying for position in their respective groups.
Group B kicked things off with a fierce Nordic rivalry between Finland and Sweden. Finland entered the matchup 0-1-0 and sitting at the bottom of the group after a disappointing loss to Slovakia. Sweden, meanwhile, came in 1-0-0 and riding momentum from a dominant opening win over Italy. Finland wasted no time flipping the script. They struck first and added another late in the opening period to take a commanding 2-0 lead into intermission. Sweden responded early in the second with a power play goal, but Finland answered midway through the period with a short-handed tally to restore their two-goal cushion. Holding a 3-1 lead entering the third, Finland sealed the rivalry victory with an empty-net goal. The 4-1 win was emphatic, physical, and emotional, featuring 32 penalty minutes. Finland bounced back in a big way and carried momentum into their upcoming matchup with Italy, while Sweden was left searching for answers ahead of facing Slovakia.
Italy and Slovakia followed in another Group B contest, with both teams hungry for points. Italy entered 0-1-0 after falling to Sweden, while Slovakia came in 1-0-0 following their upset win over Finland. Despite a scoreless first period, the tension built steadily. Slovakia broke through early in the second on the power play and later doubled their lead. Italy responded with a power-play goal of their own late in the period, cutting the deficit to 2-1 heading into the third. Midway through the final frame, Italy was forced to change goaltenders due to injury, and Slovakia capitalized shortly after to regain a two-goal edge. Italy pulled their goalie late and managed to score with the extra attacker, but Slovakia held firm to secure a hard-fought 3-2 victory. Italy showed resilience but remained winless, while Slovakia strengthened their position atop Group B.
In Group A action, France and the Czech Republic both sought their first goals (and first win) of the tournament after being shut out in their openers. The Czech Republic came out aggressively, scoring early on the power play and adding another midway through the first to take a 2-0 lead. France stormed back in the second period with three goals in the first six minutes, flipping the game and briefly taking the lead. However, the Czech Republic responded with composure. They tied the game midway through the second and then scored short-handed with under a minute left in the period to reclaim the lead. Carrying a 4-3 advantage into the third, the Czech Republic wasted no time putting the game away, scoring twice in the first two minutes to extend their lead to three. The 6-3 final reflected a game of momentum swings, but three unanswered goals bridging the second and third periods proved decisive. France showed life offensively, yet it wasn’t enough. The Czech Republic moved forward with confidence into their matchup with Switzerland, while France prepared to face Canada.
The marquee Group A showdown featured undefeated Canada and Switzerland. Canada entered 1-0-0 after a statement win over the Czech Republic, while Switzerland also sat 1-0-0 following a victory over France. Canada set the tone early, scoring five minutes into the game and adding another midway through the first. Switzerland responded with a power-play goal (the first goal allowed by Canada in the tournament), but Canada maintained a 2-1 lead after one. A second-period goal extended the advantage to 3-1, and the Canadians pulled away in the third with two more tallies. Late in the game, Swiss forward Kevin Fiala suffered an injury and had to be stretchered off the ice, casting a somber note over the final minutes. The 5-1 result reinforced Canada’s dominance and solidified their hold atop Group A.
After three days of competition, Canada led Group A, followed by Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and France. Slovakia sat first in Group B, with Finland, Sweden, and Italy trailing behind. In Group C, the United States held the top position, ahead of Germany, Denmark, and Latvia.
The tournament momentum continues to build as every nation begins to feel the urgency of the group stage. Sweden, coming off a rivalry loss to Finland, now turns its focus to Slovakia in what could be a pivotal swing game in Group B. A win would steady Sweden’s campaign, while another loss could put them in a difficult position heading toward the knockout rounds. Slovakia, meanwhile, enters with confidence and a chance to firmly establish itself as the team to beat in the group after an impressive start. Germany and Latvia prepare for a critical Group C clash, with Germany looking to stay in the win column and reinforce its position near the top of the standings. Latvia, always capable of frustrating higher-ranked opponents, sees this as a prime opportunity to shake up the group and insert itself firmly into the qualification conversation. Every point matters, and both teams understand how quickly momentum can shift in tournament play. Finland aims to build off its emotional rivalry win and carry that energy forward into its next matchup. Consistency will be key if they hope to climb further up the standings. Italy, still searching for its first victory, hopes the home crowd provides an extra boost. With national pride and Olympic energy behind them, the hosts are desperate to turn competitive performances into results before time runs out. The United States continues to assert control in Group C, playing with confidence and depth as it eyes a top seed entering the knockout stage. Denmark, however, is not simply content to play spoiler. They are looking for a statement result that could reshape the group and elevate their tournament standing. As the schedule tightens and knockout stage positioning becomes clearer, the intensity only rises. Every shift, every special teams opportunity, and every late-game decision now carries added weight at Milano Cortina 2026.
Zac Electrifly 
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