US Stuns Canada to claim Men's Hockey Gold at 2026 Olympics

Jack Hughes scored the game-winner at 1:41 of 3-on-3 overtime, propelling Team USA past the heavily favoured Canadians at the Milano Santagostino Ice Hockey Arena, as reported by CTV News and NBC Olympics.

Matt Boldy gave the US a 1-0 lead six minutes into the first period, but Cale Makar equalised late in the second for Canada, forcing overtime after a scoreless third despite Canada outshooting the US 41-26 overall. 

US goaltender Connor Hellebuyck stood tall with key saves, including on Connor McDavid's breakaway, while the Americans' penalty kill went a perfect 18-for-18 in the tournament, as reported by Fox Sports and The Guardian.

"It's an unbelievable, unreal game by our team. Ballsy, gutsy win. "That's American hockey right there," Jack Hughes said post-game, as quoted by NBC Olympics. 

The victory, 46 years to the day after the 1980 Soviet upset, featured tributes to late US forward Johnny Gaudreau, with his No. 13 jersey carried on the ice, reported by Fox Sports.

Canada settled for silver in its fourth straight gold-medal hockey matchup since NHLers joined the Olympics, extending its record of nine prior titles but falling short again. 

Team USA completed an unbeaten run in the first full NHL Olympics in over a decade, with women's gold already secured earlier, per Olympics.com and NHL.com.