The opening act features a clash of philosophies and histories as Canada meets the defending champions, Finland. The Canadian squad, led by the generational talent of Connor McDavid, arrives in the semi-finals after a harrowing 4-3 overtime victory against Czechia. However, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the Canadian bench regarding the status of captain Sidney Crosby, who sustained a lower-body injury during the quarter-final. Facing them is a Finnish side that has mastered the art of defensive resilience. Finland earned their spot in the final four after a grueling overtime battle of their own against Switzerland, and they now look to dismantle the Canadian offense with the same structured precision that secured them gold four years ago. For fans tuning in globally, this heavyweight bout is scheduled for 4:40 PM local time (CET), which translates to 10:40 AM ET in North America and 9:10 PM IST in India.
As the ice settles from the first matchup, the spotlight will shift to a revitalized Team USA as they face a dangerous Slovakian underdog. The Americans, fueled by the offensive creativity of Auston Matthews and a dramatic overtime winner from defenseman Quinn Hughes against Sweden, are chasing their first Olympic gold since the historic "Miracle on Ice" in 1980. Their opponents, however, are far from intimidated; Slovakia enters the semi-final as a "giant killer," having dominated Germany 6-2 in the quarters and boasting a recent track record of upsetting U.S. rosters in international play. This second semi-final will puck off at 9:10 PM local time (CET), airing at 3:10 PM ET for U.S. viewers and 1:40 AM IST on Saturday morning for the South Asian audience.
The implications of today’s results extend beyond immediate victory, as the winners will move on to the ultimate showdown for gold, while the defeated teams must quickly recalibrate for the Bronze Medal Game on Saturday, February 21. These semi-finals represent the pinnacle of the sport, marking a successful return of the world’s best professional players to the Olympic fold and ensuring that whatever the outcome, the 2026 Games will be remembered for a level of competition that redefined the modern era of international hockey.
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