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Jack Hughes scored less than two minutes into overtime to give the United States a 2-1 win over Canada and the U.S. their first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since their 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
Canada, who was playing in its fourth gold-medal game in an Olympic tournament since NHLers were allowed to participate in 1998, had to settle for a silver medal.
Canada outshot the Americans 42-28, but U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood tall in the American crease, stopping a tournament-high 41 shots to backstop his country to a gold-medal victory.
The U.S. struck first after Matt Boldy scored six minutes into the first period to give the Americans a 1-0 lead. Canada peppered Hellebuyck with shots, finally breaking through late in the second period with a Cale Makar goal to tie it 1-1.
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- Jack Hughes scores in overtime, U.S. beats Canada 2-1 for Olympic men’s hockey gold
Neither side could score in the third period, forcing the two teams to go to 3-on-3 overtime. At the 1:41 mark of of the extra frame, Jack Hughes, whose brother Quinn Hughes scored the OT-winner against Sweden in the quarterfinals, buried a wrister past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington to clinch the gold medal in men’s hockey.
This was the first Olympic tournament with NHL participation since 2014. Canada’s Drew Doughty was the only player in Sunday’s gold-medal game to have played in that tournament, as Sidney Crosby was kept out of the lineup due to a lower-body injury.
Here’s everything that happened during Sunday’s gold-medal game:
Jack Hughes scores in OT to win gold
The United States have defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal in men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal less than two minutes into OT.
This is the first gold medal in men’s hockey for the U.S. since NHLers were permitted to play at the Olympics.
Hunter Crowther, CTVNews.ca journalist
Read full recap from The Canadian Press
McDavid named tournament MVP
Canada forward Connor McDavid was named the most valuable player for the men’s hockey Olympic tournament.
The Edmonton Oilers’ captain led the tournament in points with 13 (two goals and 11 assists), which set a record for scoring in tournaments that involve NHLers.
Sunday’s gold-medal game was the first contest in the tournament that McDavid was held pointless.
McDavid was also named the tournament’s Best Forward. United States’ defenseman Quinn Hughes was named Best Defender, while U.S. netminder Connor Hellebuyck was awarded Best Goalkeeper.
All three were named to the tournament All-Star Team by Olympic credentialed media, along with Canadian forward Macklin Celebrini and Czechia forward Juraj Slafkovsky.
Hunter Crowther, CTVNews.ca journalist