Finland stuns hockey world with blunt take on Team Canada and Connor McDavid

Mikko Rantanen basically said the quiet part out loud about Canada’s ceiling.

Juuse Saros went there too, calling the star power “massive” and the biggest problem in the tournament.

That is not bulletin-board talk, that is respect mixed with dread.

Coach Antti Pennanen didn’t dance around it either, he called McDavid “the best player in this tournament.”

Pennanen even joked he should call Aleksander Barkov for advice, then remembered Barkov isn’t in this Olympic run because of a knee injury.

So what’s the actual plan, beyond a smile and a name-drop?

The only real answer is to shrink McDavid’s ice, not chase his jersey.

Canadian fans are already in that “please give us another McDavid clinic” mood, because we have all seen what happens when he gets a clean middle lane.

Finland has to stack bodies between the dots and force every touch wide.

They also need their first forward back hard, because broken plays are where McDavid turns into a one-man odd-man rush.

By Sunday, McDavid had already made Olympic history with a points binge that set the tone for Canada’s run.

If Finland wants any breath, Saros has to erase the first mistake and the second one too.

And up front, Rantanen has to answer with offense, because you do not “hold” Team Canada for 60 minutes.

Rantanen is rolling into this with 20-49-69 in 54 games this season, so Finland does have a puncher’s chance if they can stay out of scramble hockey.

Friday’s semifinal feels simple, make McDavid play through five sticks, or go home.