Guentzel, Hagel Punch Tickets to Gold Medal Game

Graphic Credit: Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

By Mike Smith | Thunderstruck Sports

After two weeks of spectacular competition, the final game of the Men's Olympic Tournament in Milan, Italy, is set! Two members of the Tampa Bay Lightning remain and will face off for gold on Sunday. Here's a look at Friday's semifinal matchups.

Team Canada Rallies From Two-Goal Deficit to Beat Finland

Nathan McKinnon scored with 35 seconds to play in regulation to cap a two-goal third-period rally and defeat Team Finland, 3-2. The power play goal sent Team Canada on to the gold medal game on Sunday in Milan, Italy.

Finland built a 2-0 lead through the first half of the game with goals by Mikko Rantenen and Erik Haula. Both scores were on special teams. Rantenen scored on a power play in the first period when Sam Bennent collided and interfered with Finnish goalie Juuse Saros.

Haula scored on a shorthanded goal early in the second period. However, Team Canada remained calm with coach Jon Cooper making adjustments throughout the game.

Sam Reinhart scored at 14:20 of the second period to pull Canada to within one. Shea Theodore would add the equalizing goal at the 10:34 mark of the third period.

A high-sticking penalty on Nikko Mikkola at 17:25 of the third gave Team Canada the opportunity they needed to clinch a spot in the final. Connor McDavid found McKinnon open in the left circle, and the Colorado Avalanche star fired a shot that snuck through an opening between the post and Saros.

Finland was unsuccessful in challenging the goal for offside.

Guentzel, Team USA Dominate Slovakia

Jack Hughes scored twice, and Zack Werenski had three assists as the United States punched its ticket to Sunday's Gold Medal game with a dominating 6-2 win over Slovakia. The loss sends Slovakia to the Bronze Medal game on Saturday.

Jack Eichel, Brady Tkachuk, and Tage Thompson each had a goal and an assist. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring with a goal at 4:19 of the first period.

Lightning forward Jake Guentzel had three shots on goal and a rating of +1. A goal off his skate was disallowed when a kicking motion redirected the puck.

The Battle of Florida took on an international flair when Slovakian and Bolts defenseman Erik Cernak clashed with American and Florida Panther forward Matthew Tkachuk, resulting in misconduct penalties for fighting. Brady Tkchuck was ejected from the game for misconduct, as well.

And Then There Were Two

The United States and Canada, led by Lightning Coach Jon Cooper, will face off in the Gold Medal game Sunday at 8:10 am ET. After sending nine players to the Olympic Games, the Tampa Bay Lightning will have two medal winners once the day is over: one with gold and one with silver.

With the stakes as high as they are internationally, the in-team rivalry between Brandon Hagel and Jake Guentzel will be the talk of the locker room for weeks to come—every player who participated in these games dreamt of this opportunity.

Guentzel and Hagel have earned the opportunity, and both will rise to the occasion as the amazing Bolts they are.