On Sunday, February 22, a nearly half century drought came to an end. Well, 46 years to be exact (1980 Miracle Team). Team USA men’s hockey walk-off Canada 2-1 in overtime of the gold medal game in Milan.
Minnesota Wild forward, Matt Boldy, began the scoring with 14 minutes remaining in the first period giving the Americans the 1-0 lead. In the second period Colorado Avalanche defenseman, Cale Makar, evened the game at 1-1 with 1:44 remaining in the middle period. Both teams stalemated in the third period forcing overtime. In the three-on-three OT period New Jersey Devils forward, Jack Hughes, cemented his legacy on Olympic history with the game-winning goal with 18:19 remaining in the period, giving Team USA the 2-1 win over the Canadians.
JACK HUGHES DELIVERS AMERICA'S GOLDEN MOMENT IN OVERTIME. pic.twitter.com/4foFDOri53
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026
Winnipeg Jets goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck, was outstanding saving 41 of the 42 shots he faced for the Americans. St. Louis Blues goaltender, Jordan Binnington, saved 26 of the 28 shots he faced for Canada.
HELLE
#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/Ls1OzQ6yxD
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 22, 2026
Team USA went a perfect 6-0 in the 2026 Olympics as they secured gold for the first time since Lake Placid in 1980. Additionally, of the three times Team USA has won gold, this is the first outside of the United States of America (1960 Squaw Valley, California and 1980 Lake Placid, New York). The 2026 Olympics were held in Milan Cortina, Italy.
Team USA featured three players from the Minnesota Wild in forward Matt Boldy and defensemen Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes. A pair of University of North Dakota alumni played for the Americans in forward Brock Nelson (Colorado Avalanche) and Jake Sanderson (Ottawa Senators).
Possibly the most touching moment of the tournament came after the Americans won gold and they brought a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey onto the ice. Johnny was a team USA men’s hockey member, but tragically died in August 2024 with his brother Matthew when the pair were hit by a vehicle while cycling the weekend of their sister’s wedding. Johnny’s children were brought onto the ice by Team USA members to take team photo that also featured Gaudreau’s jersey.
For Johnny Gaudreau.
pic.twitter.com/rWycdK8NUo
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026
Team USA brings Johnny Gaudreau’s children in for the team picture on Johnny Jr.’s 2nd birthday
#MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/M77wl3Cnx7
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 22, 2026
