Juuse Saros and Erik Haula, the only remaining Nashville Predators still playing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, will play for the bronze medal after falling to Canada in the semifinal in Milan, Italy.

Finland lost 3-2 to Canada on Feb. 20 despite the best efforts of Saros and Haula. Saros made 36 saves, but was unable to stop Nathan MacKinnon’s power play goal with 35 seconds left that sent Canada to the gold medal game on Feb. 22 (7:10 a.m. CT). Haula scored a shorthanded goal that put Finland up 2-0 in the second period.

Advertisement

Canada will face the winner of United States and Slovakia in the other semifinal game later in the day. Finland will face the loser of that game in the bronze medal game on Feb. 21 (1:40 p.m. CT).

It was a tough loss to endure for Saros, who played his best game of the tournament. Canada’s attack was ruthless in the second and third periods after Finland jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Even without captain Sidney Crosby, Canada played MacKinnon and Connor McDavid on alternating lines for most of the game, giving Finland’s defense endless tough matchups. After Canada tied the game with nine minutes remaining, Saros was under constant threat, making near impossible stops to keep the game tied 2-2 until MacKinnon’s go-ahead, power play goal off a well-placed seam pass by McDavid.

Saros finished 3-2-0 with a .934 save percentage and a 1.75 goals allowed average at the Olympics. Haula, who played mostly on the third and fourth lines for Finland, finished with one goal and three assists.

The Predators, who were back at practice on Feb. 18 after the Olympic break, return to action on Feb. 26 at Bridgestone Arena against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Advertisement

FACE THE MUSIC: As Bill Haslam searches for new GM, it’s time the Nashville Predators face the music

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex at jdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Predators’ Juuse Saros, Erik Haula will play for bronze at Olympics