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By CTVNews.ca Staff
February 22, 2026
U.S defeats Canada to win gold in men’s hockey
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.
United States’ Matthew Tkachuk (19) celebrates after the United States defeated Canada in a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
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.
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.
Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates after scoring the game winning goal to defeat Canada 2-1 during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
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.
Connor McDavid #97 of Team Canada controls the puck against Dylan Larkin #21 of Team United States in the second period during the Men’s Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Crosby on how close he was to playing in final
Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby told reporters after the game that he was kept out of Sunday’s gold-medal game against the United States due to a lower-body injury sustained earlier in the week in the quarterfinals against Czechia.
“It was pretty close,” Crosby said. “Ultimately, I wasn’t able to go out there and do what I needed to do in order to help the team. At that point you have to make a decision that’s best for the group. It’s not an easy one, but that’s hockey.” 
Crosby, who had two goals and four assists for six points through four games in the tournament, said it was difficult watching the game instead of playing, but that Canadians should be proud of how the team performed.
“I thought that obviously we did everything but score. In every facet we were so good today, I thought we deserved better,” he said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t come away with the win.”
Original:https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/article/olympic-heartbreak-canada-loses-to-us-in-overtime-in-mens-hockey-gold-medal-game/
