Jack Hughes, Connor Hellebuyck lift U.S. to Olympic hockey gold
jack hughes scored the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a 2-1 victory over Canada and the men's Olympic hockey gold in Milan. U. S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck stood tall throughout the game, stopping a very large number of shots to keep the contest tied into extra time.
Jack Hughes overtime winner
Less than two minutes into the extra period, Jack Hughes finished the play that decided the game. Zach Werenski wrestled the puck away from Canada's Nathan MacKinnon and sent a cross-ice feed to an open Hughes, who put the puck past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington for the winner. The game ended 2-1 in favor of the United States in 3-on-3 overtime.
Boldy, Makar and the sequence
Matt Boldy opened the scoring in the first period, splitting two Canadian defenders and getting a shot past Binnington. Cale Makar tied the game in the second period. Neither team allowed a goal in the third, and the contest moved to overtime.
Chipped tooth and four-minute power play
Jack Hughes had at least one front tooth chipped in the third period after taking a high-sticking penalty from Sam Bennett. That infraction resulted in a four-minute power play for the United States. Hughes said, "My first thought was, draw the penalty, " and added, "Actually, my first thought, I looked on the ice and saw my teeth. " Teammate Matt Boldy added: "More people are going to be looking at his medal than his teeth. "
Hellebuyck's key saves
Connor Hellebuyck produced several signature moments. In the third period he used his paddle to stop Devon Toews from tucking a rebound into a gaping net. He also stuffed Connor McDavid on a breakaway halfway through the second period. One account listed Hellebuyck with 41 saves; another listed him with 40 stops. Matthew Tkachuk called the performance "one of the best performances of all time -- it has to, " adding it was "right up there with Jimmy Craig [in 1980], all the great United States goaltenders. " Dylan Larkin said: "That guy should never buy a drink in [his home] state of Michigan ever again. "
Celebration and teammates' reactions
After Hughes' winning goal, the gloves went flying as Team USA celebrated on the ice. Defenseman Charlie McAvoy said: "I can't wait to see the footage of what happened after we scored, because it was a complete blackout. Who I was hugging, where I was going... I don't know what happened. It was just euphoria. I can't even explain what I was feeling, just pure joy. " Quinn Hughes, Jack's brother and a U. S. defenseman, called his sibling "He's a freaking gamer. He's always been a gamer, " and added, "Just mentally tough, been through a lot, loves the game. American hero. " Jack Hughes celebrated with teammates and the gold medal around his neck after the play.
Context, rivalry and reaction
P. K. Subban is full of praise for Team USA men's hockey after defeating Canada to win the gold medal. (2: 07) The United States captured its first men's Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice. " The women's team completed a clean sweep for USA Hockey by also defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime on Thursday. Players had talked before the tournament with a mantra of "gold or bust" in the months leading up to the event.
Trump reaction and rivalry
President Donald Trump reacted to the overtime victory on Truth Social, writing: "Congratulations to our great U. S. A. Ice Hockey team. THEY WON THE GOLD. WOW!" He added: "WHAT A GAME!!!" and "LOTS OF WINNING!!!" The president's political prodding of Canada helped reignite the rivalry between the two nations, a rivalry that began last year when Team USA and Canada fought each other during the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Hellebuyck's triumph in Milan also carried personal weight. He is the reigning Vezina and Hart Trophy winner and the victory served as a redemption arc after a rough 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs with the Winnipeg Jets, when he was pulled three times in the first round versus the St. Louis Blues. Hellebuyck told critics, "Those critics, they can keep writing, " and added, "But they don't understand goaltending. They don't understand my game. I know w" — the comment ended mid-quotation in the available text.
Photos from Milan show jack hughes celebrating the winning goal in the men's ice hockey gold medal game on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, in Milan, Italy. The scene capped an Olympic final that featured tight defense, standout goaltending and a sudden-death finish between long-time rivals.
Sunday's victory completed a tense sequence of events — Boldy's early goal, Makar's equalizer, a scoreless third period, a chipped front tooth and a four-minute power play for the U. S., several huge saves by Hellebuyck, and the Werenski-to-Hughes feed that ended it — leaving American players, coaches and observers to savor the gold.
Closing paragraph: The United States won the men's Olympic hockey gold 2-1 in Milan on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, with jack hughes scoring in 3-on-3 overtime and U. S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck turning aside dozens of shots to carry his team to the medal.
