The two rivals entered the tournament as the heavy favorites, after bringing NHL players back to the Olympic for the first time in 12 years.
MILAN, Metropolitan City of Milan — Two powerful rivals faced off in the final event of the 2026 Winter Olympics. But 60 minutes just wasn’t enough time for either team to claim the gold medal in men’s hockey.
Team USA’s Jack Hughes ultimately scored the winning goal shortly into the three-on-three sudden-death overtime, giving the U.S. a 2-1 win. No miracle needed.
The men’s gold medal hockey game went to overtime at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday, tied 1-1. Teams play sudden-death 3-on-3 OT in the final, with rules changing as the tournament progresses.
The U.S. and Canada met hours before the Closing Ceremony got underway. The two rivals entered the tournament as the heavy favorites after bringing NHL players back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years.
The U.S. led six minutes into the game on Matt Boldy’s highlight-reel goal until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. The Canadians tilted the ice toward Connor Hellebuyck, who was brilliant in net, stopping 40 of the 41 shots he faced in regulation.
There were plenty of chances for each team to win the final. The U.S. had more than three minutes of power play time past the midway point of the third after Sam Bennett high-sticked Jack Hughes, who then high-sticked Nick Suzuki to give Canada the same advantage.
With Hellebuyck locked in, the U.S. improved to 18 for 18 on the penalty kill in the tournament.
Hellebuyck was by far the best player on the ice, stopping 41 of the 42 shots he faced as Canada tilted the ice toward him. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on the puck on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then minutes later denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway — something he also did to Connor McDavid earlier.
“Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck,” Hughes said. “He was our best player by a mile.”
Winning a fast-paced, riveting game that was full of big hits and plenty of post-whistle altercations, the U.S. got a goal from Matt Boldy 6 minutes in and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill was a perfect 18 for 18 at the Olympics.
“I can’t even believe this,” Hughes said. “I mean it’s such an unbelievable game, USA-Canada. Such a good game. There’s so many great players. We’re a great team. That’s exactly how we wanted it to go. We’re underdogs to Canada, (but we) beat them. It could have gone either way.”
The last American men’s hockey gold medal at the Olympics was 46 years ago in Lake Placid. The 1980 team of college players pulled off the “Miracle on Ice,” beating the heavily favored Soviet Union on the way to authoring one of the most talked-about underdog stories in sports history.
In the early moments of the gold medal win, Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 around the ice as the latest tribute to the beloved player who was killed along with his brother in 2024.
Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow, Meredith, and their oldest children were in attendance. It was John Jr.’s second birthday.
The U.S. finally came through after generations of churning out talent from the grassroots level like a production line. All but two of the 25 players on the team went through USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
The two teams had much the same rosters a year ago when they played two memorable games at the 4 Nations Face-Off that reminded everyone just how good best-vs.-best international hockey can be.
In the previous two Olympics in which the NHL participated, Canada took home gold. In 2014, the team never trailed. In 2010, Crosby scored in overtime to defeat the U.S. and win on home ice.
Canada has won three of the five Games with NHL players to give it a record nine gold medals. Hockey was born in Canada, and the expectation is always to be the best in the world at it.
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