Jack Hughes Teeth: jack hughes teeth knocked out by high-stick before Olympic overtime winner
Jack Hughes lost teeth in a third-period high-stick and then scored the overtime winner as the United States beat Canada 2-1 (OT) to claim men’s hockey gold at the Milan Cortina Games. The detail of jack hughes teeth — a bloody mouth and missing front teeth — became part of a dramatic night in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
Jack Hughes Teeth and the Sam Bennett high-stick
Hughes, the 24-year-old New Jersey Devils forward who wears No. 86, took a stick to the mouth from Sam Bennett in the third period and emerged with a bloody mouth and two of his front teeth missing. "I looked on the ice and saw my teeth, " Hughes said; he also noted he had one tooth knocked out in an NHL game a few years ago. Teammates visibly rallied around him as the game reached its climax.
Overtime winner past Jordan Binnington for a 2-1 victory in Milan
Hughes scored the decisive goal, putting the puck past Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington after a little more than 1 1/2 minutes of extra time. The goal came in 3-on-3 overtime and gave the United States a 2-1 (OT) victory over Canada, the country’s first Olympic men’s hockey gold since the 1980 "Miracle on Ice. " The finish came at the Milan Cortina Games on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.
Connor Hellebuyck’s 41-save performance and the key stick save on Devon Toews
While Hughes finished as the hero, Connor Hellebuyck was the standout: the three-time Vezina Trophy winner stopped 41 of 42 shots for the Americans. Hellebuyck’s saves included a dramatic stick save on Devon Toews at the doorstep that preserved a one-goal game and set the stage for overtime.
Quinn Hughes, family connections and teammate tributes
Jack’s older brother, Quinn Hughes, is a 26-year-old defenseman for the Americans and praised his younger brother after the game: "No one loves the game more than him. He's got so much passion. He's a gamer. He made it happen. " The U. S. roster also paused to honor Johnny Gaudreau, who would have been part of the team if not for a horrible tragedy that cost him and his brother their lives; former teammates skated around the rink with Gaudreau’s jersey and brought out his kids for the team photo.
Generational context and the close of the Milan Cortina Games
Players and staff framed the victory as part of a larger lineage of U. S. hockey moments, referencing the 2010 Vancouver Sidney Crosby golden goal and T. J. Oshie’s shootout heroics in 2014 as touchstones for the generation that watched those games on TV. One player said, "I love the USA. I love my teammates. It's unbelievable, " and added, "It's just a ballsy, gutsy win. That's American hockey right there. " Two weeks and 116 medal events later, the 2026 Winter Olympics concluded, with note made that the Norwegians dominated the medal table to extend their lead.
Medals and moments: Hughes, Keller and the podium
Hughes celebrated with his teammates on the podium; photo captions from the final showed Jack Hughes and Clayton Keller reacting after receiving their gold medals. The 2-1 overtime victory closed the Olympic hockey tournament and handed the U. S. its first men’s hockey gold since 1980.
