Team USA Defeats Canada in Overtime As Jack Hughes Scores Golden Goal to Win First Olympic Gold Since 1980

Team USA captured its first Olympic hockey gold medal in 46 years Sunday morning with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada at Milano Santagiulia Arena. Jack Hughes scored the golden goal 1:41 into sudden death to end the longest gold medal drought in USA Hockey history.The Americans defeated their archrival exactly 46 years to the day after the Miracle on Ice team shocked the Soviet Union on February 22, 1980. Hughes fired a wrist shot past Jordan Binnington from the left slot after Zach Werenski stripped Nathan MacKinnon and sent a cross-ice pass to the New Jersey Devils center.Matt Boldy gave the United States a 1-0 lead with a goal 6:00 into the first period, the fastest goal to start an Olympic gold medal game in USA history. Boldy beat the previous American record holder, Tony Amonte, who scored 8:49 into the 2002 gold medal game that Canada won 5-2.Cale Makar tied the game late in the second period with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Connor Hellebuyck under his arm. The goal came after Canada dominated the middle frame and outshot the Americans 19-8 in the period.Hellebuyck made 41 saves to keep the Americans alive through 60 minutes of regulation. Canada outshot the United States 42-28 but couldn't solve the Winnipeg Jets' goaltender when it mattered most.The three-time Vezina Trophy winner denied Connor McDavid on a breakaway in the second period and made a desperation stick save against Devon Toews in the third. Hellebuyck reached behind his back with his paddle to deflect Toews' shot at the doorstep with an open net staring at him.The victory gave Team USA a record 12 gold medals at Milano Cortina 2026, surpassing the previous American high of 10 at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. The Americans swept both men's and women's hockey gold medals, with the women defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime Thursday.Sidney Crosby missed the gold medal game for Canada with a lower-body injury sustained in the quarterfinal. Crosby scored the golden goal when Canada defeated the United States in overtime at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.The Americans went 18-for-18 on the penalty kill throughout the tournament, including a critical 93-second five-on-three in the second period. The gold medal game served as the final event before the Closing Ceremony at Verona Arena, where Italy will hand the Olympic flag to France for the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.