Back of the net! All hell breaks loose as Canada's Sam Bennett sparks melee by pushing Finnish goaltender into his own net at Milano Cortina 2026

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Canada's Sam Bennett earned the wrath of Finland when he shoved Finland goaltender Jusse Saros into his own net in the ice hockey semi-finals at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Bennett's foul caused a nine-man brawl featuring punches and headlocks that needed two referees to break up. Canada eventually won the match 3-2 despite missing iconic captain Sidney Crosby through injury.

Goaltender sent 'FLYING into his own net' as melee breaks out

Video credit: TNT Sports

Wayne Gretzky said that the one thing Canada have to rely on is their "grit" before their ice hockey semi-final against Finland, but Sam Bennett went overboard when he slammed opposition goaltender Jusse Saros into his own net, sparking a nine-man brawl between the teams.

Despite ice hockey’s reputation as a game where virtually anything goes, with a punch-up on the ice in the NHL only earning a five-minute spell in the sin-bin, targeting the goalie remains controversial and the Finnish players immediately started swinging at Team Canada after the incident.

Rasmus Ristolainen squared up to Brad Marchand while Bennett, Saros and Niko Mikkola - who Bennett shoved into the goalie - brawled on the floor while Finland’s biggest star Rantanen put Sam Reinhart in a headlock.

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And with Bennett sent to sit out for two minutes, it proved a costly penalty for Canada as Finland’s Mikko Rantanen fired his side into the lead just three seconds of game time later.

Indeed, Finland still led 2-1 going into the final period before a Canadian onslaught eventually paid dividends, thanks to late goals from Shea Theodore and alternate captain Nathan MacKinnon.

"Catching save there, now this is going to cause a problem, this is going to cause a real problem," TNT Sports commentator Richard Boprey said.

"Saros sent flying into his net, he is not happy I can tell you that much."

Canada score with just seconds left to survive Finland scare and reach final

Video credit: TNT Sports

Theodore - ‘It was our turn to get it done’ for injured icon Crosby

It looked like Bennett’s misdemeanour could make the difference when Erik Haula doubled Finland’s lead despite his side having a man in the sin-bin and the period ended at 2-1 after Reinhart finally got the favourites going with a tipped goal.

But Canada dominated the final period and showed all their grit to drag themselves level thanks to Theodore before MacKinnon sealed the victory and a place in the final with only 36 seconds left.

There were tense moments that will have been all-too familiar with Premier League fans watching ice hockey for the first time when MacKinnon’s goal was subject to a video review for offside, but it stood to giving Canada a shot at their first gold medal since 2014.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Canada were forced to dig extra deep against Finland due to missing their inspirational captain Sidney Crosby - who scored the iconic golden goal at Vancouver 2010 and picked up his second gold medal four years later in Sochi.

The 38-year-old sustained a lower body injury against Czechia so superstar Connor McDavid assumed the captaincy, and Theodore said his side were determined to bring home the gold for Crosby in tribute to the victories he has secured for Canada.

"Obviously it is tough missing Sid for sure but the message is you have got to get it done," Theodore told TNT Sports.

"He has been part of a lot of big moments for Canada, so it was our turn to get it done."

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