Switzerland Falls to Finland in Olympic Quarterfinal Heartbreak
Milan, Italy – February 18, 2026 – The Swiss national ice hockey team saw its Olympic dreams dashed in Milan, falling to Finland 3-2 in overtime of the quarterfinal round. Despite a strong showing from goaltender Leonardo Genoni and a 2-0 lead, Switzerland was unable to hold on against the reigning Olympic champions.
Early Swiss Dominance
Switzerland came out strong, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period thanks to goals from Damien Riat and Nino Niederreiter. Riat scored in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a turnover, and Niederreiter followed up just 72 seconds later with a long-range shot that beat Finnish netminder Juuse Saros.
Finland Fights Back
Finland responded in the third period, with Sebastian scored at the 54th minute to narrow the gap to 2-1. With their goalkeeper pulled for an extra attacker, Finland tied the game at 2-2 when a shot deflected off Swiss defender Jonas Siegenthaler and past Leonardo Genoni.
Overtime Heartbreak
The game went to overtime, where Artturi Lehkonen scored the winning goal for Finland, ending the Swiss run.
Disappointment for Fischer and Team
“We are good enough to win this match, but we didn’t succeed. It’s a disappointment, obviously,” said Nico Hischier, struggling to express his emotions after the game. Captain Nico Hischier acknowledged the narrow margin of defeat, drawing parallels to past disappointments in World Championship finals.
Head coach Patrick Fischer expressed his frustration, stating, “We knew that the Finns were within our reach. We started well and had everything under control, but in the end we let the game slip out of our hands. This is extremely unfortunate and disappointing.” Fischer too noted the missed opportunity for revenge after Switzerland’s 5-1 defeat to Finland in Beijing four years prior.
Looking Ahead
Despite the loss, Switzerland demonstrated a positive performance throughout the tournament. The team will now turn its attention to the upcoming World Championship on home soil in May, though the focus on that event was tempered by the sting of this Olympic defeat. This quarterfinal exit also marks a potential turning point for coach Patrick Fischer’s tenure with the national team.
Source: bluewin.ch