Mens Hockey Gold Medal Game Time Confirmed: U.S. to Face Canada Sunday Morning in Milano Cortina Final
The United States and Canada will meet for the Olympic men’s hockey title on Sunday at Santagiulia Arena, with Mens Hockey Gold Medal Game Time set for 8: 10 a. m. ET. The matchup follows a 6-2 U. S. victory over Slovakia and a late, 3-2 Canadian comeback against Finland that decided the other finalist.
Development details — Mens Hockey Gold Medal Game Time
The gold medal game is scheduled for Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET at Santagiulia Arena in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina. The U. S. reached the final after a 6-2 semifinal win over Slovakia in which Dylan Larkin opened scoring 4: 19 into the game and Jack Hughes added two goals in the second period as the Americans built a 5-0 lead. Canada advanced by rallying from a 2-0 deficit to beat Finland 3-2, with Sam Reinhart and Shea Theodore providing the early Canadian goals and Nathan MacKinnon delivering a power-play winner with 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
The United States roster consists of 25 players who will wear the red, white and blue in the final. U. S. coach Mike Sullivan emphasized the importance of the sport’s history to this group, noting the opportunity before them. Forward Matthew Tkachuk framed the game as playing for the country and for future generations of athletes.
Context and escalation
Friday’s results completed the bracket that had been building across the tournament: Canada’s late goal sealed its path to the final after a match in which Finland twice held the lead, and the U. S. win was decisive from early in the semifinal. The U. S. has not won Olympic men’s hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid team, often invoked in the current roster’s conversation; that 1980 victory remains the nation’s last Olympic title in the sport. This American team of 25 NHL players now has a chance to change that run of results against a Canadian side that staged a dramatic finish to reach the final.
The matchup rekindles a rivalry that has featured high stakes in recent Olympic tournaments. The United States and Canada met in past Olympic finals when NHL players participated, with the U. S. falling to Canada in 2002 and 2010. The current meeting follows two 4 Nations Face-Off matches last year in which the teams split results, and the U. S. emphasis has been on this group making its own history rather than dwelling on prior outcomes.
Immediate impact
The immediate consequence is that the Olympic men’s tournament will conclude with the North American heavyweight matchup on Sunday morning, while Finland and Slovakia are set to play for bronze on Saturday. The U. S. victory over Slovakia was notable for its margin — a four-goal difference — and for the timing of its scores: an early Larkin strike and a commanding second period that put the game beyond reach. Canada’s comeback required a late power-play conversion from MacKinnon, shifting momentum and securing the narrow 3-2 win that sends them into the final.
For players and coaches, the outcomes trigger focused preparations: the Americans and Canadians will have specific game plans to refine on the short turnaround to the final, and the U. S. group will carry the historical weight emphasized by their coach and leaders as they chase the nation’s first gold in men’s hockey since 1980. What makes this notable is the convergence of a decisive U. S. semifinal performance with Canada’s last-minute resilience, setting up a final that contrasts dominant execution and late-game resolve.
Forward outlook
The next confirmed milestone is the gold medal game on Sunday at 8: 10 a. m. ET at Santagiulia Arena. Before that, Finland and Slovakia will contest the bronze medal on Saturday. Both finalist teams enter the final with distinct narratives: the United States aiming to capitalize on its 6-2 semifinal rout and to secure a first Olympic men’s hockey title for this generation of players, and Canada riding the momentum of a comeback victory capped by a power-play goal with under a minute left.
Preparations by coaches and final roster management will unfold in the remaining practice windows and briefings ahead of Sunday’s scheduled start time. The match will decide which of the two nations adds the gold medal to its Olympic tally at Milano Cortina, closing the Games’ hockey competition with one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament.
