Finally!
Forty six years to the day of a monumental victory, the United States men’s ice hockey team is golden again in the Winter Olympics.
The U.S. defeated Canada, 2-1, in overtime in the gold medal game Sunday at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
U.S. forward and New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes scored the game-winning golden goal to end the near-half century drought for the United States.
This is Team USA’s first gold medal in men’s ice hockey since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team won it all as underdogs in Lake Placid, New York.
Despite being outplayed for a large majority of the game, the United States was able to hold off the nonstop pressure from Canada. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was sensational, having the performance of a lifetime by making 41-of-42 saves, easily the best player on the ice either side as his heroic efforts were needed to even get the gold medal game to overtime.
Here was our live coverage, analysis and more on the U.S. men’s hockey team win over Canada in the gold medal game:
Celebrating their gold medal win over Canada, the United States hockey team went to take a picture with all their gold medals at center ice.
After one group picture together, U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk went into the stands, where he grabbed Johnny Gaudreau’s kids for pictures with the team and holding up their dad’s No. 13 red, white and blue jersey.
Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, brothers and New Jersey natives, died on August 29, 2024, when they were struck and killed by an SUV while cycling in Oldmans Township, New Jersey.
Johnny, a former All-Star who played 763 games in the NHL, was expected to be on this Olympic roster competing for a gold medal before his tragic death.
The Gaudreau family was in attendance throughout the Olympic Games, including for the gold medal game against Canada.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games were historic for the United States, who won their most ever gold medals (12) at the Winter Olympics.
Two of those gold medals came from ice hockey, as the U.S. men’s ice hockey team joined the women’s team as gold medalists.
The comparisons between both teams are uncanny, as each won 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal.
It’s the first time in Olympic history that both the United States men’s and women’s ice hockey teams are gold medalists at the same in an Olympic tournament.
Both organizations will look to defend their Olympic gold medals at the 2030 Winter Olympic Games that will take place in the French Alps region of France four years from now.
Here’s the video of Devils’ star Jack Hughes scoring the biggest goal of his career to win the United States gold on the final day of these Olympic Games:
AMERICA IS GOLDEN IN MEN’S ICE HOCKEY!
Jack Hughes scores the golden goal in overtime as the United States defeats Canada 2-1 in the gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Overtime has started in the gold medal game between the United States and Canada.
This likely won’t last long with the world’s best players on the ice.
Next goal wins.
With the United States and Canada gold medal game heading to OT, here’s a refresher on the overtime rules for the Olympic Games:
Next goal wins.
The gold medal game between the United States and Canada heads to overtime.
The U.S. was able to hold off a furious, non-stop Canada offensive to send this one to OT.
Team USA killed off another penalty, now 18-for-18 when down a man in these Olympic Games.
The next goal scorer will be remembered as a hero forever as the golden goal scorer and winning their country a gold medal.
With their own power play winding down, U.S. forward Jack Hughes high sticks Canada’s Nick Suzuki, sending the Devils star to the bench.
It’ll be 4-on-4 for 49 seconds which will be followed by a Canada power play for 1:11 afterwards with just over three minutes left in regulation.
The United States gets their best chance of the gold medal game.
Continuously getting caved in their own zone in the third period, the U.S. goes on the man advantage.
Canada forward Sam Bennett high sticks Team USA forward Jack Hughes. With Hughes bleeding, this means it’ll be a double minor and a four-minute power play for the United States.
A huge opportunity for the U.S. coming.
Wow.
Canada’s success continued to start the third period, where defenseman Devon Toews had an open net in tight but Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made a reactionary stick save on what would’ve been a goal to somehow keep this one tied in the opening minutes of the third period that’s undoubtedly the biggest save of this tournament so far.
Hellebuyck would then go on to stop another breakaway, this time from Canada forward Macklin Celebrini.
The United States needs to force some type of offensive pressure otherwise Canada scoring will only be a matter of if and not when.
After Canada adjusted their top line to begin the second period, United States head coach Mike Sullivan changes his top line as it’s now Brady Tkachuk, Jack Eichel and Dylan Larkin.
40 minutes down, 20 to go.
Team USA and Canada are tied at 1-1 in the gold medal game.
It was clear that Canada was the much better team in the second, as they outshot the Americans by more than double in the period of the long change.
After having chances all period long on power plays, breakaways and nonstop opportunities, Canada defenseman Cale Makar finally gets Canada on the board.
So close.
The United States was inches away from taking a 2-1 lead in the dying seconds of the second period, but were denied as Brock Faber had a double doink, hitting both posts on his shot from near the blue line as it somehow stayed out to keep this game tied.
You knew it was coming.
After Canada applied pressure nearly all period long, defenseman Cale Makar snaps the puck past goalie Connor Hellebuyck to tie the game 1-1 with under two minutes remaining in the second period.
The U.S. needs to get out of this period ASAP.
What a performance by the United States penalty kill unit.
After taking two quick consecutive penalties, the U.S. found themselves short-handed down two players for 93 seconds.
Despite Canada having the massive advantage, Team USA was able to kill off both penalties, with huge saves from goalie Connor Hellebuyck and important face off wins from center Dylan Larkin.
The United States remains perfect on the penalty kill, as they’re now 17-for-17 in these Olympic Games.
Canada was only able to generate three shots during both power plays.
Team USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck makes his biggest stop of the game so fa.
Canada’s new captain Connor McDavid — viewed as the best player in the NHL — had a breakaway opportunity but after a ton of stick handling was not able to get a shot on Hellebuyck.
The score remains 1-0 for the United States.
Wow.
The U.S. received easily the best scoring opportunity when Canada turned it over in their own zone, as Brock Nelson had a wide open shot but goaltender Jordan Binnington was able to come up big and make the save on Nelson.
Bookmark that as a potential game changing play.
Five minutes into the second period and Canada has come out flying.
You can tell the sense of urgency for Canada is there as they’ve spent a ton of time in the offensive zone to start the period.
While Canada has applied all the pressure so far, the score remains the United States 1-0 as goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has been strong in between the pipes.
The second period is underway and Canada head coach Jon Cooper has adjusted his top line.
After starting the gold medal game, with Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon on his first line, Cooper now has MacKinnon on a line with Mark Stone and Mitch Marner to begin the second period.
Cooper has done this throughout Canada’s play in the Olympics and will likely continue to tinker with his lineup as the game moves along.
With an assist on the opening goal in the gold medal game, defenseman Quinn Hughes recorded his seventh assist of the tournament.
Quinn Hughes — the oldest brother of New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes and defenseman Luke Hughes — became the first American player to record a six-game point streak during a single Olympics featuring NHL players, as he broke a tie with Zach Parise, who played in five games during the 2010 Winter Olympics.
The eldest Hughes brother has been one of, if not the best performer on this United States team so far. Quinn could’ve been the deciding factor in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off final against Canada this time last year as he missed the best-on-best tournament with an injury.
Team USA comes up short on the man advantage as Canada kills off the U.S. power play to keep this a one-goal game.
The U.S. had two shots on the power play but weren’t able to beat goaltender Jordan Binnington.
Less than a minute to go in the first period of the gold medal game.
The U.S. are going on the power play.
With just under three minutes left in the first period, the United States are going on the man advantage.
Canadian defenseman Shea Theodore hooked Brock Nelson and heads to the box.
A huge opportunity here for the U.S. to take a two-goal lead.
The first 20 minutes has come to a close in the gold medal game.
As expected, there’s been a tremendous amount of skill between the U.S. and Canada, with not a lot of open space at all with the best-on-best on display in the first period.
Shots were 8-7 for the United States, with both teams exchanging a high-danger scoring chance or two to start this game.
The lone goal belongs to Team USA forward Matt Boldy, who split Canada’s top defensive pairing by juggling the puck in and beating goalie Jordan Binnington six minutes into the gold medal game.
The U.S. had a great chance in the final seconds to extend the lead, as Canadian defenseman Drew Doughty turned the puck over in his own zone but it does not result in a goal as Jordan Binnington makes a big time save to keep the puck out of the net.
We have our first stoppage of the play in the first period.
While both benches get a break for a couple minutes, it’s been a high paced start so far in the gold medal game.
The U.S. opened the scoring less than six minutes in.
In the minutes that followed, Canada responded with pressure of their own in the offensive zone but USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has stood tall so far.
One shot, one goal.
On their first shot of the game, the United States takes an early 1-0 lead in the gold medal game.
Forward Matt Boldy juggled the puck up in the air and split two Canadian defenders in Cale Makar and Devon Toews before beating goaltender Jordan Binnington on the backhand to open the scoring in the gold medal game.
Quinn Hughes and USA captain Auston Matthews were credited with assists on the goal.
A tremendous start for the United States.
While the United States has yet to have a shot a little over five minutes in, their opening shift was a good one for the U.S., who applied pressure for nearly two minutes in the offensive zone.
Canada has the game’s first three shots in what’s been a heavy hitting opening minutes in the gold medal game.
Here’s the line rushes for Canada that were submitted to the IIHF prior to the game:
1st line: Brady Tkachuk, Jack Eichel and Matthew Tkachuk
2nd line: Jake Guenztel, Auston Matthews and Matthew Boldy
3rd line: Jack Hughes, Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson
4th line: J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson ad Vincent Trocheck
Extra forward: Clayton Keller
1st pair: Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy
2nd pair: Jacob Slavin and Brock Faber
3rd pair: Zach Werenski and Jake Sanderson
Extra: Noah Hanifin
Starting goaltender: Connor Hellebuyck
Backup goalie: Jake Oettinger
Kyle Connor (healthy inactive), Jackson LaCombe (healthy inactive) and Jeremy Swayman (healthy inactive)
Here’s the line rushes for Canada that were submitted to the IIHF prior to the game:
1st line: Macklin Celebrini, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon
2nd line: Mitch Marner, Nick Suzuki and Mark Stone
3rd line: Brad Marchand, Sam Bennett and Tom Wilson
4th line: Brandon Hagel, Bo Horvat and Seth Jarvis
Extra forward: Sam Reinhart
1st pair: Cale Makar and Devon Toews
2nd pair: Thomas Harley and Colton Parayko
3rd pair: Travis Sanheim and Drew Doughty
Extra: Shea Theodore
Starting goaltender: Jordan Binnington
Backup goalie: Logan Thompson
Sidney Crosby (injured), Josh Morrissey (injured) and Darcy Kuemper (inactive)
With puck drop less than an hour away, it’s been confirmed that Canada will be without their captain and two-time gold medalist Sidney Crosby for the gold medal game. Crosby suffered a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals and did not return to the game.
After missing the semifinal round against Finland, there was optimism that the three-time Stanley Cup champion would be able to suit up against Team USA. Crosby’s absence will be a huge loss up the middle for Canada up the middle.
TV channel: NBC
Streaming:Peacock
Here were the results for both semifinal games in men’s ice hockey for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games that took place on Friday, Feb 20:
USA 5, Slovakia 1
Canada 3, Finland 2
Here’s USA men’s ice hockey complete schedule and results leading up to the Gold Medal Game for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games:
Thursday, Feb. 12 (preliminary round)
Saturday, Feb. 14 (preliminary round)
Sunday, Feb. 15 (preliminary round)
Wednesday, Feb. 18 (quarterfinals)
Friday, Feb. 20 (semifinals)
Sunday, Feb. 22 (Gold Medal Game)
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