The United States defeated Canada 2–1 in overtime on Sunday to claim the men’s ice hockey gold medal at the Winter Olympics, securing the final medal of the Milan-Cortina Games.
Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal in sudden death, sealing the Americans’ first Olympic title in men’s hockey since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid.
The atmosphere inside the arena was electric from the outset. The predominantly Canadian crowd, estimated at two-thirds of those in attendance, loudly booed the US team during warm-ups. But chants of “USA! USA!” soon echoed through the building, growing in volume after Matt Boldy gave the Americans a 1–0 lead in the opening period.
Boldy weaved past two Canadian defenders before beating goaltender Jordan Binnington with a composed finish to open the scoring.
US netminder Connor Hellebuyck was outstanding for much of the contest, turning aside the first 24 shots he faced. However, Canada drew level in the second period when Cale Makar’s wrist shot slipped over Hellebuyck’s pad and into the net.
The Americans nearly restored their lead late in the second frame when Brock Faber’s thunderous slap shot ricocheted off both posts but somehow stayed out.
With the score tied at 1–1 after regulation, the game moved into three-on-three overtime. It was there that Hughes delivered the golden moment, finishing off a swift attack to spark jubilant celebrations among his teammates and US supporters, and clinch a dramatic Olympic triumph.
