Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen delivered his most impactful performance of the Olympic tournament so far, recording two points in Finland’s emphatic 11–0 victory over Italy on Saturday.
The result keeps Finland firmly in contention for a quarterfinal berth as group play at the 2026 Winter Olympics approaches its conclusion on Feb. 15.
In a game defined by overwhelming territorial control, with Finland putting 62 shots on Italy, Ristolainen played a surprisingly active role in that control, contributing offensively (2 assists) while still maintaining his defensive responsibilities in limited-pressure minutes, recording a total ice time of 18:22.
While not typically known for being an offensive-minded defenseman, Ristolainen's performance against Italy proved that he can get involved in the offensive zone once his team really gets rolling—and in a group stage where points and goal differential mean everything, obviously everyone is encouraged to participate in the scoring party.
This game was Finland's last outing in the preliminary stages, but Flyers fans still have a chance to potentially catch their other Olympians on Feb. 15, with Dan Vladar and Czechia taking on Switzerland bright and early at 6:10 a.m. EST, and Travis Sanheim, Rick Tocchet, and Canada (who have already qualified for the quarterfinals) facing off against France at 10:40 a.m. EST.