Finland Ruthless in Historic 11-0 Drubbing of Host Italy
In the spirit of the Olympic Games, sportsmanship usually dictates taking your foot off the gas when the game is well in hand. But on Saturday in Milan, the format of the tournament dictated otherwise. Mathematics, not malice, forced Finland to turn a hockey game into a highlight reel.
What transpired was an 11-0 dismantling of host nation Italy, a scoreline that felt less like a competition and more like a statement of intent. It was the most lopsided men’s Olympic hockey game since 1988, back when Sweden crushed France 13-2. But for the Finnish squad, every single one of those 11 goals was a necessary piece of business.
The Math Behind the Massacre
To understand why Finland kept firing well into the third period, you have to look at the scoreboard watching that took place before the puck even dropped. The Finns arrived at the rink early enough to catch the dying moments of Slovakia’s upset win over Sweden.
That result threw Group B into chaos. It meant Finland couldn’t win the group outright, but it opened a door: the wild card. In this tournament format, goal differential is the currency that buys you a bye to the quarterfinals.
“We decided we were going to win and win by as many goals as we can,” forward Joel Armia admitted post-game. It wasn’t personal; it was survival. The coaching staff, led by Antti Pennanen, was transparent with the locker room. The message was clear: Win first, but if the dam breaks, flood the net.
And flood it they did.
Finland’s Offensive Explosion Rewrites History
From the opening faceoff, the skill gap was stark. The Italians, buoyed by a passionate home crowd, tried to stand tall, but the relentless wave of NHL talent was simply too much.
Sebastian Aho opened the scoring less than seven minutes in, banging home a feed from Mikko Rantanen. That broke the seal. By the time the first intermission arrived, it was 3-0. By the second, it was 6-0. When the final horn sounded, the box score looked like a video game glitch.
Four different players—Aho, captain Mikael Granlund, Kaapo Kakko, and former Dallas Star Joel Kiviranta—netted two goals apiece. But the depth of the contributions was the real story. In total, 14 different skaters recorded a point. It set a new record for the most players with multiple points (12) in a single Olympic game featuring NHL talent.
Mikko Rantanen was the architect of the afternoon, dishing out three assists. He was candid about the lack of guilt regarding the scoreline.
NHL Stars Shine on International Ice
For hockey fans in Texas, the game was a showcase of familiar faces. The Dallas Stars’ fingerprints were all over the Finland victory. Miro Heiskanen, patrolling the blue line with his signature smooth skating, notched a power-play goal and an assist.
Meanwhile, Joel Kiviranta, who spent several seasons in the Stars organization, had a field day around the net, deflecting shots and cleaning up rebounds. It was a reminder of the sheer volume of elite talent this small Nordic nation produces. Even without Roope Hintz getting on the scoresheet—a statistical anomaly in an 11-goal game—the Finnish offense looked terrifyingly efficient.
A Bitter Pill for the Host Nation
On the other side of the ice, the emotions were vastly different. There is a specific kind of pain reserved for a host nation getting blown out in front of their own fans. Italy’s goaltender Damian Clara faced a firing squad, making 32 saves before being pulled, but the defense in front of him was simply overwhelmed by the speed and precision of Finland.
Italian captain Thomas Larkin didn’t hide from the reality of the situation. The Italians knew they were the underdogs, but losing by double digits on the world stage is a heavy burden to carry. They are a team in development, trying to grow the game in a country where football is a religion, facing a hockey superpower operating at peak efficiency.
Saros Stands Tall in Shutout Performance
Lost in the offensive fireworks was a quiet, perfect night for Juuse Saros. The goaltender faced only 15 shots, but he was sharp when he needed to be, securing the shutout.
Saros joins an elite club of Finnish goalies to record an Olympic shutout with NHL players participating, a list that includes names like Tuukka Rask and Miikka Kiprusoff. While he wasn’t tested often, his composure gave his teammates the confidence to take risks offensively, knowing the back door was bolted shut.
What’s Next for Finland in Milan?
With a plus-11 goal differential added to their resume, Finland has done everything in their power to secure a favorable path to the medal rounds. They sit in a strong position to grab that coveted wild card spot, allowing them to rest while others battle in the qualification round.
This wasn’t just a win; it was a calculated demolition. Finland looked at the bracket, did the math, and executed a game plan that was as ruthless as it was effective. The rest of the tournament has been put on notice: The Finns aren’t just here to play; they’re here to dominate.
