The moment was golden for the USA.
Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into overtime, lifting the Americans to a thrilling 2-1 win over Canada in the men’s hockey gold-medal game Sunday at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Matt Boldy scored in regulation for the U.S., with Connor Hellebuyck stellar in goal, making 41 saves.
Cale Makar had the lone goal for Canada. Jordan Binnington made 26 saves in a losing effort.
The game began with tremendous pace, featuring several big hits – the most notable being Canada’s Tom Wilson crushing Dylan Larkin of the U.S. – and a handful of post-whistle scrums. Hellebuyck made a nice save of Canada’s Macklin Celebrini but for the most part, Canada was unable to produce quality scoring chances.
Six minutes in, Boldy opened the scoring, fighting his way between the Canadian defence pair of Makar and Devon Toews and then slipping a backhander past Binnington.
The U.S. had the lone power-play chance of the first period when Shea Theodore was sent off on a questionable hooking call, but they were unable to convert.
Shots on goal after 20 minutes favoured Canada, 8-7.
Canada carried the play through much of the second period and outshot the U.S. 19-8.
Connor McDavid was stopped on a breakaway midway through the frame and Canada then had a 5-on-3 advantage after a pair of U.S. penalties but could not convert.
All hail Cale!
Magnifique Makar!
#MilanoCortina2026pic.twitter.com/hsVZ4061md
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) February 22, 2026
Makar finally broke the ice for the Canadians at 18:16 of the period, walking in from the point and firing a shot from the right circle that beat Hellebuyck stick-side.
With 10 seconds left, a U.S. point shot rang off the post behind Binnington, and the teams headed into the third tied at 1-1.
Ninety seconds into the third, Hellebuyck made a miraculous stop off Canada’s Devon Toews, robbing him with a stick save as Toews looked to score into an open net. Three minutes later, the U.S. goalie stopped Celebrini on another breakaway.
Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon had a glorious chance with a wide-open net midway through the period but his shot hit the side of the net.
With just over six minutes to play, Canada’s Sam Bennett received a double minor for high-sticking. The U.S. failed to score and Hughes received a high-sticking penalty, creating a 4-on-4 situation. After Bennett’s penalty expired, Canada had a short power play but could not convert, setting up the 3-on-3 overtime.
Shots after 60 minutes favoured Canada, 41-26.
At 1:41, Hughes took a cross-ice feed from Zach Werenski and beat Binnington for the golden goal.
NOTES: Injured Team Canada captain Sidney Crosby at out the game for Canada, as did defenceman Josh Morrissey… McDavid set the single-tournament Olympic scoring record by an NHLer (2-11—13)… The Americans did not give up a power-play goal in the tournament… It was the first U.S. Olympic men’s hockey title since the ‘Miracle on Ice’ in 1980.