Matt Boldy Goal Gives USA 1-0 Lead Over Canada in Men's Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Game — Live Updates
The moment 46 years in the making is happening right now. Team USA leads Canada 1-0 after the first period of the men's Olympic hockey gold medal game at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, as of Sunday, February 22, 2026 ET. Matt Boldy opened the scoring with a silky backhand breakaway goal that silenced the heavily pro-Canadian crowd, and Connor Hellebuyck has been a wall in net. The USA hockey gold medal game is live on NBC and Peacock, with the second period now underway.
Matt Boldy Goal: How USA Struck First on the Olympics' Biggest Stage
The USA hockey score is 1-0, and it was Matt Boldy who delivered the punch. Team USA's Matt Boldy split two Canadian defensemen Devon Toews and Cale Makar on a breakaway, giving himself space by pushing the puck ahead. Boldy got free after Auston Matthews stole a pass and hit him with an outlet and put Team USA on the board first with a slick backhand score.
The Minnesota Wild forward, who was one of the most hotly searched names ahead of this tournament, announced himself on the grandest possible stage. The Matt Boldy goal came via pure skill — a breakaway decision in real-time that few players in the world could execute under this kind of pressure.
USA vs. Canada Hockey Score and First Period Breakdown
The U.S. and Canada each have eight shots on goal as the first period ends. At one point, Canada had a 7-2 advantage, so Team USA really increased the pressure late in the period, helped by a power play opportunity.
| Period | USA | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Period | 1 | 0 |
| 2nd Period | In Progress | In Progress |
| Total | 1 | 0 |
A hooking penalty on Canada's Shea Theodore gave the U.S. its first power play with three minutes remaining in the first period. Canada survived it momentarily, but Boldy's breakaway just before the buzzer broke through.
Tom Wilson laid out Dylan Larkin with a hit behind the U.S. net early in the first period, setting a physical tone early. The Tkachuk brothers have been disruptive on both ends — Brady Tkachuk drawing contact and Matthew Tkachuk generating zone time.
Hellebuyck Stands Tall as Canada's Stars Come Calling
Connor Hellebuyck, the three-time Vezina Trophy winner, has been the pillar of the USA men's hockey roster all tournament long. Hellebuyck stopped a shot by Connor McDavid, who got free on the right side with a pass from Nathan MacKinnon in the second period.
McDavid — Canada's captain with Sidney Crosby sidelined — set an Olympic record with 13 points in five games leading into today. Canada's Sidney Crosby is again out with a lower body injury that he suffered versus Czechia in the quarterfinals. His absence looms large.
Nick Suzuki had an excellent scoring chance in front of the net for Canada after Brady Tkachuk inadvertently passed to him in the slot while trying to clear the puck from the boards. Hellebuyck stopped the point-blank shot.
Team USA Hockey Roster Star Power on Display
The USA men's hockey roster 2026 Olympics is what Mike Eruzione — who scored the winner in the 1980 Miracle on Ice — called "the best USA team we've ever put on the ice." Forty-six years to the day after he scored the game-winning goal to beat the Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics, Eruzione told NBC's Mike Tirico that "this is the most exciting U.S. hockey game I've been a part of."
Key contributors to the USA hockey team today:
| Player | Role | Tournament Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Matt Boldy | Forward | Gold medal game opening goal |
| Connor Hellebuyck | Goalie | Best save% in tournament (.9474) |
| Jack Hughes | Forward | 2 goals vs. Slovakia semifinal |
| Brady Tkachuk | Forward | Captain's energy, physical play |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Forward | Consistent pressure and assists |
| Quinn Hughes | Defense | Offensive catalyst from the blue line |
| Jaccob Slavin | Defense | Shutdown defense |
| Zach Werenski | Defense | Physical, composed |
How to Watch USA vs. Canada Hockey Gold Medal Game
The men's Olympic hockey gold medal game between USA and Canada is live from Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Start time was 8:10 a.m. ET Sunday, February 22. TV channel and live stream: NBC and Peacock. Canadian viewers can watch on CBC, TSN, and Sportsnet.
Last Time USA Won Gold in Hockey — and What It Means Today
The last time USA won gold in men's Olympic hockey was 1980, the legendary "Miracle on Ice" team that stunned the Soviet Union en route to the gold medal at Lake Placid. The U.S. is looking for its first medal in men's hockey since 2010, when it won silver behind Canada, and its first gold medal since 1980.
The Americans have played in two gold-medal matches since 1980, suffering losses to nine-time Olympic champion Canada at the Vancouver Games in 2010 and the Salt Lake City Games in 2002. Is fighting allowed in Olympic hockey? No — international rules do not permit fighting, and players are ejected and penalized for dropping gloves, which has kept this heated rivalry physical but controlled.
With Boldy's goal already written into Olympic history, two periods stand between Team USA and its first men's hockey gold in 46 years. Canada will not go quietly — but right now, it's USA 1, Canada 0, and the hockey world is watching every second.
