Jack Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck lift U.S. to Olympic hockey goldEmily Kaplan
MILAN — For the first time since the 1980 Miracle on Ice, the U.S. won an Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey as Jack Hughes scored the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime for a 2-1 win against rival Canada.
American players talked a big game in the months lead up to the tournament, often repeating a mantra of “gold or bust” — and backed that up with a win over their biggest rivals. It was a clean sweep for USA Hockey as the women also defeated Canada, 2-1 in overtime, for a gold on Thursday.
Hughes goal, less than two minutes into overtime was assisted by Zach Werenski.
U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck was sensational, stopping 41 shots. It was a personal redemption arc for Hellebuyck, the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner who proved he can show up in the biggest moments. Hellebuyck had a rough 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs for the Winnipeg Jets, getting pulled three times in the first round to the St. Louis Blues.
Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck blocked a point-blank shot by Canada’s Devon Toews during the third period by getting just enough of his stick handle on the puck to deflect it wide. AP Photo/Carolyn KasterOn Sunday, Hellebuyck had several signature moments, including stuffing Connor McDavid on a breakaway halfway through the second period. Shortly after, the Americans killed off a 93 second 5-on-3, a pivotal moment in the game. Team USA went 18-for-18 on the penalty kill this tournament.
The U.S. men had not defeated Canada in a best-on-best competition since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, before many players on the U.S. roster were born.
The win was revenge for Team USA after losing in last year’s Four Nations tournament staged by the NHL, a 3-2 overtime win for Canada.
As part of the celebration, U.S. captain Auston Matthews, Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk skated around the ice with the jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed alongside his brother in 2024 when they were struck by a SUV while riding bicycles. Gaudreau would have been a candidate to make this Olympic team. Team USA hung Gaudreau’s jersey in their locker room for each game during the tournament as a tribute.
Gregory Shamus/Getty ImagesSunday marked the third time the USA and Canada met in the men’s hockey gold medal game. Canada had won both previous matchups in 2002 and 2010.Matt Boldy opened the scoring six minutes in. The Americans held the lead until Cale Makar tied the game late in the second period, capping off a strong push for Canada. The Canadians outshot Team USA 19-8 in the second period.
It was a fast-paced game with plenty of chances, and stunningly, a handful of examples of the best players in the world missing wide open nets.
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Canada had come from behind in both its quarterfinal and semifinal wins. In fact, the Canadians held a lead for just 6:05 since the beginning of the elimination rounds.
Canada was without captain Sidney Crosby, who was not in the lineup with a lower body injury he sustained in the quarterfinals against Czechia. A source reported Crosby “tried everything, just couldn’t play,” and another source stressed that it was a selfless decision from Crosby, because he didn’t feel he could help the team in full capacity and his roster spot would be better served by a healthier player.
Per international rules, every team must dress a captain so McDavid wore the “C” in Crosby’s absence.
At 38, Crosby was the oldest player on Canada’s roster and the most decorated — especially after scoring the golden goal in overtime to defeat the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
However the Canadians boasted a star-studded lineup.They started a top line of Macklin Celebrini, McDavid and MacKinnon — three of the NHL’s top four point scorers this season.
Canada has won a record nine Olympic gold medals in men’s hockey, with their most recent in 2014 — the last time NHL players participated in the Olympics.
