Jake Guentzel Wins Olympic Gold With Team USA, Returns to Tampa Bay Lightning
Jake Guentzel has reached the pinnacle of hockey for the second time in his career. The Tampa Bay Lightning forward helped Team USA defeat Canada 2-1 in overtime on Sunday, February 22, 2026, to capture the gold medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics — the first U.S. men's hockey gold since the iconic Miracle on Ice in 1980.
Jake Guentzel's Role in Team USA's Olympic Gold Medal Win
Jack Hughes scored the decisive goal 1 minute and 41 seconds into overtime, while goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 40 saves to backstop the victory. Guentzel came back to Tampa with the gold medal as part of Team USA's historic win in Milan, 46 years to the day of the Miracle on Ice.
Guentzel logged 17:37 of ice time and fired two shots on goal in the gold medal game. Though he was not on the scoresheet in the final, his tournament contribution was steady throughout a perfect run in Italy.
Jake Guentzel's Full Olympic Tournament Stats
| Category | Totals |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 6 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Shots on Goal | 13 |
| TOI (Gold Medal Game) | 17:37 |
| Team Record | 6-0 (Undefeated) |
Guentzel scored one goal in six games as the United States went undefeated in Italy. Prior to the Olympics, Guentzel made his international debut by playing for Team USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he scored three goals in four games in that tournament.
Historic Achievement and Career Accomplishments
Jake Guentzel now holds one of the rarest résumés in hockey. The former University of Nebraska Omaha Maverick has played in the Frozen Four, won a Stanley Cup, and now added an Olympic gold medal to his hockey accomplishments. He won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in his rookie season in 2017.
Guentzel has scored 294 goals and 631 total points in nearly 10 NHL seasons. The Lightning are currently in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Jake Guentzel's 2025-26 Tampa Bay Lightning Season
Before departing for Milan, Guentzel was among the Lightning's most productive forwards. Guentzel had 18 goals, 23 assists, and 105 shots in 40 games this season, which put him on pace for his third career 80-plus point season. He set a career high of 41 goals in his first season with Tampa Bay.
After the Olympic break, Guentzel will now head back to Tampa, where he is second on the team in goals and points this season.
What's Next for Jake Guentzel and the Lightning
With the NHL Olympic break now over, Guentzel rejoins a Tampa Bay Lightning squad sitting atop the Eastern Conference. The Lightning will look to ride the momentum of their gold medal contributors as the stretch run of the regular season intensifies heading toward the NHL playoffs. Guentzel, now a Stanley Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, enters the final stretch as one of the most decorated American players in the sport.
