Jack Hughes scored in overtime and the U.S. defeated Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, earning the nation’s third men’s hockey title and its first since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, 46 years to the day of the upset over the Soviet Union.
Unlike the college team that pulled off one of sports’ biggest upsets, the Americans in Milan rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten. Hughes’ goal off a pass from Zach Werenski came 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime. Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the ice as tribute to the beloved player killed along with his brother in 2024. Gaudreau’s parents, his widow Meredith, and their oldest children attended the game on what would have been John Jr.’s second birthday.
Hellebuyck stopped 41 of 42 shots as Canada dominated possession. He made the save of the tournament by getting his stick on a shot from Devon Toews in the third period, then denied Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway after doing the same to Connor McDavid earlier. “Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck,” Hughes said. “He was our best player by a mile.”
The U.S. got a goal from Matt Boldy six minutes into the game and led until Cale Makar tied it late in the second period. Hellebuyck and the penalty kill went perfect, 18 for 18 at the Olympics. The Americans beat Canada, their northern neighbor that defeated them at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago and has won every international competition over the past 16 years featuring the world’s best players.
All but two of the 25 U.S. players went through USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. The roster included captain Auston Matthews, the top line of Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Jack Eichel, and brothers Jack and Quinn Hughes. Canada, back-to-back Olympic champions in 2010 and 2014, played without injured captain Sidney Crosby, who left the quarterfinal against Czechia and sat out the semifinal against Finland.
