The two best teams in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament made it to the final game, and they played a game worthy of the history books.
But the U.S. men emerged victorious, winning their first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.
The U.S. men’s hockey team beat Canada, 2-1, in overtime of the gold medal game of the 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday, Feb. 22, at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan. Forward Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal less than two minutes into the overtime period, giving the U.S. men its third gold medal.
Canada outplayed the U.S. in the second and third periods but failed to score on a handful of golden opportunities, allowing the game to go into overtime. That’s when Hughes struck with a five-hole shot that he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
But despite Hughes scoring the medal-winning gold, the player of the game was U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who made 41 saves on 42 shots in one of the greatest performances in U.S. Olympic history.
The U.S. beat Slovakia 6-2 in its semifinal game on Friday, setting up a gold-medal matchup with its rivals to the north. Canada, meanwhile, beat Finland 3-2 in the first semifinal matchup on Friday with a last-minute, go-ahead goal.
The U.S. men previously won gold in 1960 and 1980, while the U.S. women beat Canada in the gold-medal game on Friday, Feb. 20. Both teams now have three gold medals in their respective competitions.
Here’s how it all happened.
It seems like the those in the arena knew how big of a performance U.S. goalie Connor Hellebucyk gave. He and Jack Hughes received the biggest ovations of any U.S. player in the gold medal ceremony (though Sidney Crosby arguably received a bigger one from the mostly Canadian crowd when the Canadian players were awarded their silver medals).
The 25 players that make up the U.S. hockey roster are receiving their gold medals (no stuffed animals seen yet, however).
Members of Team USA skated with a Johnny Gaudreau jersey and a U.S. flag after the gold-medal win for the U.S. Gaudreau, an 11-year NHLer, died in a car accident while cycling with his brother in 2024, and his family was in attendance for today’s game. Later, the team brought out his two young children and into full-team pictures.
Gold-medal winning goal-scorer Jack Hughes was interviewed after the game, and said he was “proud to be an American right now.”
He also credited goalie Connor Hellebuyck for his performance, calling him the best player on the ice.
Hughes’ overtime goal won the gold medal for the United States, marking one of the the greatest goals in U.S. Olympic history. Watch it here.
FINAL: USA 2, Canada 1.
A Quinn Hughes shot found Canada goalie Jordan Binnington’s glove, at first keeping the U.S. off the board in the sudden-death period. But his brother Jack found the net a minute later, and the U.S. wins gold.
Next goal wins the gold.
Just like in the women’s final, the gold-medal game between the U.S. and Canada is going to overtime, but it will look a little different than it does in the NHL.
The U.S. and Canada will play three-on-three hockey, and whoever scores the first goal will win the game. In the gold-medal game of the Olympics, however, there is no shootout if the first 20-minute overtime period ends without a score. In that case, we will have a 15-minute break, both teams will switch sides and a new 20-minute period begins.
End regulation: USA 1, Canada 1.
We’re going to overtime.
Canada has thoroughly outplayed the U.S. from the second period onwards, leading 41-26 in shots. But thanks to a great performance from U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, we’re level at 1-1 and heading to overtime.
3rd period, 3:23: USA 1, Canada 1.
About three minutes into the four-minute power play, U.S. forward Jack Hughes drew a high-sticking penalty. We’ll have four-on-four hockey for 49 seconds, followed by a one-man advantage for Canada for 71 seconds after.
3rd period, 6:34: USA 1, Canada 1.
A high-sticking penalty called on Canada forward Sam Bennett drew blood from U.S. forward Jack Hughes, leading to a double minor for Bennett. The U.S. will be on a power play for four minutes.
3rd period, 9:55: USA 1, Canada 1.
Another open-net shot, another miss for the Canadians.
Forward Nathan MacKinnon got the puck near the crease and had an open net, but shot the puck directly into the side of the net, leaving the go-ahead opportunity empty for Canada.
3rd period, 14:49: USA 1, Canada 1.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck is playing the game of his life.
Hellebuyck denied a goal opportunity early in the period when he got his blocker on the puck in an open-net opportunity for Canadian defender Devon Toews. Two minutes later, the Canadians got another chance on a breakaway from forward Macklin Celebrini, which Hellebuyck also denied. The game is still tied early in third period.
A U-M flag has been spotted at Santagiulia Arena in Milano. USA standouts Dylan Larkin and Quinn Hughes both played hockey at U-M.
End 2nd period: USA 1, Canada 1.
A shot from U.S. defender Brock Faber with less than a minute to go in the period hit two posts, almost giving the U.S. a lead into the second intermission. But it’s Canada’s aggressiveness that has tied this game after Cale Makar’s second-period snipe.
2nd period, 1:44: USA 1, Canada 1.
Canada has more than doubled-up the U.S. on shots in the second period, and one finally got through.
Canadian defender Cale Makar got the puck soon after a face-off and found the net with less than two minutes to go in the period. We have a tie game.
2nd period, 7:57: USA 1, Canada 0.
The U.S. successfully killed both penalties with some especially impressive defense from Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin. The U.S. has a 100% penalty kill rate so far in the tournament.
2nd period, 10:05: USA 1, Canada 0.
Only 30 seconds into the power play, a hooking penalty called on U.S. defender Charlie McAvoy gives Canada a 5-on-3 for 91 seconds. It’s a big opportunity for the Canadians.
2nd period, 10:33: USA 1, Canada 0.
Soon after a breakaway from Connor McDavid was saved by U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, U.S. forward Jake Guentzel was called for a holding penalty. Canada will go on the power play for the first time this game.
2nd period, 12:46: USA 1, Canada 0.
Canada has been the more aggressive side this period so far, with five shots on goal to the U.S.’s three. But U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck has done well keeping the puck out of the net with 13 saves so far this game.
During the first intermission, former NHL goaltender Brian Boucher (who is working for NBC as an analyst) said that he has never seen an NHL game as fast as the first period of the USA-Canada game.
He credited both teams for bringing the “best of the best” of the NHL to the gold-medal game.
End 1st period: USA 1, Canada 0.
Canada killed the U.S. power play towards the end of the first period and led the U.S. on shots overall for most of the period, but finds itself down to the U.S. 1-0 after Matt Boldy’s highlight-reel goal six minutes into the game.
1st period, 2:57: USA 1, Canada 0.
A hooking penalty from Canada defender Shea Theodore gives the U.S. the first power play of the game.
1st period, 4:00: USA 1, Canada 0.
This game so far has been fast and hard-hitting, with no penalties but one goal for the U.S.
Canada leads on shots 8-4, but the U.S. leads 1-0.
U.S. forward Matt Boldy’s goal put the U.S. up 1-0. Watch the highlight here.
1st period, 14:00: USA 1, Canada 0.
U.S. forward Matt Boldy took the puck in the neutral zone, made an impressive move to shake two Canada defenders and then backhanded the puck into the net. It was the first shot of the game for Team USA, with Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes credited for the assist.
The U.S. is up 1-0.
1st period, 15:49: USA 0, Canada 0.
The U.S. spent the first minute-and-a-half of the first period in its offensive zone, applying pressure but not getting a shot on goal. Canada has responded with three shots on goal, but no goals yet.
What might be the biggest hockey game of the year will start in a few minutes.
Per the NBC broadcast, Team USA forward Tage Thompson is “100% ready to go” after missing the third period of the U.S.’s 6-2 win against Slovakia.
Through five games.
The U.S. is taking the ice and wearing white jerseys for the gold-medal game against Canada, who is wearing red.
Through five games.
No big surprises from the U.S. projected lines, with the Tkachuk brothers both on the front line and the former U-M star Quinn Hughes starting on the back line.
Canada released its projected lines, with Sidney Crosby not appearing in the lineup after missing the semifinal against Finland. Crosby is fourth on the team with six points in four games this tournament.
Finland beat Slovakia 6-1 on Saturday, Feb. 21, to win the bronze medal in men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics. It medals in the sport in back-to-back tournaments after winning gold in 2022.
Sunday’s gold medal game between Team USA and Canada can be watched on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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