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Team Finland made Olympic history during a dominating 11-0 win over Team Italy at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan on Saturday.
Finland’s 11 goals and 62 shots set Olympic records during the NHL’s player participation era in the men’s hockey tournament for goals in a single game.
Its 11-goal margin of victory is also an Olympic record.
Finland had 14 different players record a point, while four different players each scored two goals. Kaapo Kakko, Mikael Granlund, Sebastian Aho and Joel Kiviranta all found the back of the net twice during the team’s drubbing of the host nation.
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Finland’s Sebastian Aho, left, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s first goal during a preliminary round men’s ice hockey match against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 14, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
It was the second game in a back-to-back for Finland after they beat Sweden 4-1 on Friday. Goalkeeper Juuse Saros played both games back-to-back and made 15 saves in Saturday’s win.
Italy goalkeeper Damian Clara made 34 saves in the first two periods, while Davide Fadani made 21 saves in relief of Clara in the third period.
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Italy’s goalkeeper Damian Clara adjusts his helmet during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round against Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 14, 2026. (Hassan Ammar/AP Photo)
Finland’s win means that Team Slovakia won Group B and automatically advances to the quarter-finals. Slovakia, Finland and Sweden all had the same record, but Slovakia won the group due to its superior goal difference.
Finland, helped by its 11 goals on Saturday as goal difference is a tiebreaker, can win the one wild card and reach the quarterfinals as a No. 4 seed. Where it ends up depends on Sunday’s results.
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Finland’s Sebastian Aho (20) scores his team’s first goal during a men’s ice hockey preliminary round against Italy at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on February 14, 2026. (Julien De Rosa/Pool Photo via AP)
With Finland’s historic victory over Italy, it also dealt Sweden a crushing blow. Sweden, who had already lost 5-3 to Slovakia on Saturday, cannot be seen higher than seventh after Finland’s win, guaranteeing Sweden play in the qualifying round on Tuesday.
