Looking Good for Canadiens After Olympic Bronze Medal Game
Some Olympic Games barely leave a mark. This one left a significant impact. The bronze-medal matchup between Oliver Kapanen and Juraj Slafkovsky was supposed to be a so-so conclusion to the tournament. Instead, both Montreal Canadiens players put on a show—one helping Finland grab the bronze medal, the other reminding everyone why he might already be a top-tier star on the world stage.
It was a 6–1 final, but that score honestly lies a little. Finland pulled away late, but right up until the third period, the game was tight. Both young Canadiens had their fingerprints all over it in very different ways. And for Montreal fans watching from home, it was pretty hard not to feel proud of what each guy showed.
Oliver Kapanen: The Surprise Bronze-Medal Starter.
For most of the tournament, Oliver Kapanen looked like he was stuck in hockey limbo—dressing as the 13th forward, waiting for a real shot, barely seeing the ice. Then Finland lost Mikko Rantanen, and suddenly Kapanen found himself skating with Sebastian Aho and Artturi Lehkonen in the biggest game of the Olympics. Not a bad promotion.
He didn’t just survive it. He fit right in. He played a smart, fast, assertive game and even got close to scoring a couple of times. He beat the goalie twice—both crossbars. He also appeared to poke a loose puck that led to Finland’s opening goal, but the replay wasn’t clear enough for him to get an assist.
No points, but a huge confidence statement. He belonged. He should’ve been used earlier. And now he goes home with a bronze medal and a bit of international buzz.
Juraj Slafkovsky: The Best Player in a Losing Effort.
Meanwhile, on the Slovakia side, Juraj Slafkovsky did pretty much everything except drag the net down the ice with him. He was double-teamed constantly, still generated five shots, and was easily Slovakia’s most dangerous player. The only surprise is that this was the lone game where he didn’t record a point.
Across the whole tournament? Eight points in six games. Against NHL competition. And he did it looking bigger, faster, stronger, and more confident than ever. If he isn’t named to the Olympic All-Star team, that’s a miss.
What These Olympics Mean for the Canadiens.
Honestly, this is a great sign for the Montreal Canadiens. Kapanen walked into the biggest moment of his young international career and held up. Slafkovsky walked in and dominated like a franchise player.
Two Canadiens. Two very different roles. This bronze-medal story underscores why Montreal’s future looks promising.