Finland beats Sweden at Olympics, but concerns over defenseman Niko Mikkola
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Charles Byron
Feb 13, 2026 (8:53)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Finland delivered one of its strongest performances of the tournament so far with a convincing 4-1 win over Sweden, but the celebration may be short-lived.
Late in the game, veteran defenseman Niko Mikkola appeared to be in discomfort as he made his way toward the dressing room.
According to reports shared during the broadcast and online, the Finnish blue-liner looked shaken up following a sequence near the end of regulation.
There has been no official update yet, but the images were enough to spark concern.
Mikkola plays a key role on Finland’s back end. His size, reach and physical presence allow the coaching staff to match him against top lines.
Losing a top-four defenseman at this stage of the Olympic tournament would be a significant blow, especially considering how thin Finland’s defensive depth has looked in recent international competitions.
A dominant performance overshadowed by uncertainty
On the ice, Finland controlled large stretches of the matchup against Sweden. After building a lead in the opening period, the Finns never truly let the momentum slip away.
Nikolas Matinpalo opened the scoring early, giving Finland immediate energy. Anton Lundell added another before Sweden responded in the second period through Rasmus Dahlin.
However, Finland stayed composed and continued to generate pressure.
In the third period, Mikko Rantanen sealed the result with a late goal, putting the game out of reach and securing a 4-1 final score.
The team looked structured, disciplined and opportunistic throughout the night.
But even with the two-goal cushion late and full control of the pace, attention quickly shifted from the scoreboard to the bench when Mikkola left the ice.
Finland has already dealt with roster challenges in recent major tournaments.
The prospect of losing another important piece on defense at the Olympics would change the outlook of the competition for them almost instantly.
For now, all eyes turn to the medical update. A victory over Sweden is always significant on the international stage, but if Mikkola’s situation proves serious, the win could come at a very high cost.
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21 HOURS AGO|16 ANSWERS Finland beats Sweden at Olympics, but concerns over defenseman Niko Mikkola If Niko Mikkola misses time, how much would it hurt Finland? | ||