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It’s all come down to this: Canada and the United States will face off in the gold-medal game for men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Canada cruised through the preliminary round, defeating Czechia, Switzerland and France by a combined score of 20-3. In their quarterfinal game, a rematch against the Czechs, Mitch Marner scored in overtime to give Canada a 4-3 victory. In the semifinals, Canada climbed back from a 2-0 deficit and MacKinnon one-timed a McDavid pass with 35 seconds left to give Canada a 3-2 win and a spot in the gold medal game.
- Canada eliminates Czechia in OT, will face Finland in Olympic semifinal
- Canada storms back from 2-0 deficit to beat Finland, will face U.S. in gold medal final
As for the U.S., they defeated Latvia, Denmark and Germany by a combined score of 16-5. The Americans faced Sweden in the quarterfinals, and like Canada, needed overtime to get the win, as Hughes scored to advance. They defeated Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinals and clinched their first berth in the gold medal game since 2010.
Second period underway
The puck has dropped for the second period between Canada and the U.S.
Hunter Crowther, CTVNews.ca journalist
Canada kills penalty, U.S. hold lead after one
Despite a hooking call against Canadian defenseman Shea Theodore late in the period, Canada killed off the penalty and the scores remains 1-0 after the first.
Canada outshot the Americans 8-7 in the opening frame.
Hunter Crowther, CTVNews.ca journalist
Nervous energy inside Scotiabank Arena after U.S. scores
TORONTO – CP24’s Melissa Duggan says there is “nervous energy” inside Scotiabank Arena after Team USA struck first in the gold-medal game.
Still, fans remain confident.
“We’ve done it before. Quarterfinal, semis, Canada’s come back from goals down. We can do it again. It’s no big deal,” one person told CP24.
Another added, “We’re down right now, but we’ve got more shots on goal, so I think we can pull it off.”
Duggan says anytime it looks like Canada has possession, the crowd gets loud and energized — with a noticeable boost from the long coffee lineups earlier in the morning.
Jermaine Wilson, CP24.com & CTVNewsToronto.ca journalist