USA Clinch Olympic Ice Hockey Gold with Overtime Victory Over Canada
The United States captured the final medal of the Winter Olympics in dramatic fashion on Sunday, edging Canada 2–1 in overtime to secure the men’s ice hockey gold.
The decisive moment came off the stick of Jack Hughes, who struck in three-on-three overtime to seal a historic triumph for the Americans.
The victory marks the United States’ first Olympic men’s hockey title since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid, when they stunned the Soviet Union.
A largely pro-Canadian crowd created a hostile atmosphere before puck drop, loudly jeering the American players during warm-ups. However, chants of “USA” soon echoed around the arena, especially after Matt Boldy opened the scoring in the first period. Boldy maneuvered past two defenders before slipping the puck beyond Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington to give the U.S. an early advantage.
The Americans leaned heavily on goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who turned away the first 24 shots he faced. Canada eventually broke through in the second period when Cale Makar fired a wrist shot that squeezed over the pad and into the net, leveling the contest at 1–1.
The U.S. nearly restored their lead late in the second frame as Brock Faber unleashed a powerful slap shot that ricocheted off both posts but somehow stayed out. With regulation unable to separate the rivals, the game moved into sudden-death overtime.
It was there that Hughes delivered the golden goal, sparking wild celebrations among his teammates and American supporters as the United States reclaimed Olympic glory in men’s ice hockey.
