The United States have won the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, capturing their first gold medal since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” team of 1980.
The golden goal, coming from New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes, came early in the game’s three-on-three overtime period. It ended what was an iconic game between two hockey heavyweights. An early goal from Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy gave the Americans a 1-0 lead, but the ice began to tilt in the second period. A goal from Colorado Avalanche defender Cale Makar tied the game in the second period.
Canadian pressure was relentless for the rest of regulation time. The Canadians piled up quality scoring chances, but reigning Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck made save after save to keep the game tied. Hellebuyck’s paddle save on Canadian defenseman Devon Toews, breaking up a prime scoring opportunity, will likely now go down as one of the most iconic saves in the history of USA Hockey.
Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin, who constructed this American roster, came under significant criticism during the lead-up to the tournament for some of his roster decisions. His choice to include a pair of New York Rangers veterans, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, rather than lethal goal scorers Jason Robertson and Cole Caufield, was one that drew considerable fire. But Guerin maintained all along that he was looking to build not the “best” team, one that would have as many all-stars as possible, but instead the “right” team, one capable of handling all of the adversity a short best-on-best tournament typically provides.
The Americans went through the tournament without a significant amount of adversity, though, at least compared to the Canadians. Sweden gave them a scare during the quarterfinals when Mika Zibanejad tied the game late, but superstar Quinn Hughes pushed the Americans forward with a fast overtime marker. The Americans flew past the Slovaks in the semifinals, and the United States’ games in the knockout round felt very different from Canada’s games, which were marked by late deficits and dramatic comebacks.
In the end, the margin between the United States and Canada was razor thin. While Canada dominated much of the final two periods of the game, the nature of three-on-three overtime is that it provides a clean slate for every team – it is a distinctly different form of hockey than five-on-five. Hellebuyck kept the Americans in the game, and gave them a chance to win it by delivering them to the overtime period. While Canada had a few chances in overtime, Hughes was the first to convert his, and in doing so, he etched his name into international hockey history.
Ah, it feels so sweet.
3 on 3 OT to decide such a consequential game sucks.
I agree, but there is also something to be said for finishing the job in regulation.
Which Canada had seemingly 10 good chances to do.
We got a bit of 4 on 4 in the 3rd at least…
It’ll be interesting to see if the NHLPA pushes for 5 on 5 OT (in elimination games) in 2030. They can make it happen if they want.
@C-Daddy, agreed. I’m ecstatic at the result, but come on, in best on best play the game as it was meant to be played.
Hellebuyck is a freak of nature
After watching that game, a U.S. gold medal win, honoring Guadreau, it’s crazy people can still find something to complain about.
It’s the Canadians (the people), what do you expect lol. Many Canadians (not all) thought it was automatic for them to win gold. But for Canada, this is all they had going for them since they can’t win a Stanley Cup & haven’t in 3 1/2 decades.
I was for USA and had a strong feeling USA would win especially it being to the day, the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice”. Congratulations to Team USA.
Now, can we get back to business to the regular season and see what happens at the trade deadline.
USA had no business winning that game without Hellebuyck. But! They had Hellebuyck. Incredible performance by him.
jack hughes was phenomenal and clutch the entire olympics!
That was an absolute mugging in the end but an incredible and absorbing game of hockey. You’ve got to take your chances: MacKinnon’s open net miss will loom large, but take nothing away from an incredible performance from Hellebuyck, wow
Great game. Hellebuyck stole the show. Both teams deserved to win but the Americans finished when they needed to. Here’s hoping for the rematch in 2030.
Connor Hellebuyck is Mr. Olympic Gold!!!!!!!!
Now back to playoff style hockey. With s***load of intensity…