Jack Hughes Scores in OT; Team USA Wins Gold in Epic Thriller Against Canada
- Mike Smith
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
By MIke Smith | Thunderstruck Sports
The United States has a new generation of golden heroes.
Jack Hughes scored at the 1:41 mark of overtime to propel Team USA to a 2-1 victory over Team Canada, winning the Olympic gold medal for the first time in 46 years. Off a pass from Zach Werenski, Hughes shot the puck through the sliding five-hole of Jordan Binnington to send the American bench into a frenzy, pouring onto the ice in celebration.
Hughes started the scoring sequence with a poke check on Cale Makar in the American end of the ice. Werenski scooped up the loose in the Canadian end, and he immediately found Hughes streaking unopposed into the left circle.
Game. Set. Gold Medal.
Hellebuyck Saves The Day for the United States
The heroics of Hughes and Werenski notwithstanding, the true story of this victory falls to Team USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck made 41 saves in one of the most brilliant performances of his career, including a behind-the-back paddle save to deny Devon Toews a near-certain goal that would have given Canada the lead early in the third period.
Minutes later, Hellebuyck would again save the game with a point-blank save against Canadian phenomenon Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini scooped up a Charlie McAvoy blocked shot and flew down the ice on a breakaway. Hellebuyck denied Celebrini with a pad save and redirected the puck, so the ensuing rebound shot went wide.
Hellebuyck was a questionable choice to start the Olympic tournament, given past criticism of his performance in high-stakes, big-game situations throughout his career. He set a record for most saves in an Olympic final, surpassing Ryan Miller's 36 saves in 2010. The Winnipeg Jets goaltender was 5-0-0, with a tournament-best .956 save percentage and 1.18 GAA.
After these Olympics, Hellebuyck silenced his critics.
USA Heroics Thwart Impressive Canadian Performance
Statistically, Canada played the better game at Santaguillia Arena in Milan, Italy, on Sunday. As much as this game was the United States' to win, it was certainly Canada's to lose.
Canada came out on all cylinders in a very fast-paced first period. However, Matt Boldy used Canada's overaggressiveness against them early. Matt Boldy flipped a puck between Toews and Makar, gaining position as both defensemen overpursued and deked to the backhand to push the puck past Binnington at the 6:00 mark.
Canada then settled in and played the game as directed by Team Canada and Lightning coach Jon Cooper: quick, decisive puck movement and creative scoring chances.
After drawing even on shots in the first period with 8 apiece, Canada went on to outshoot the United States, 34-20. Makar scored in the second period off an American zone faceoff when Toews found the Colorado Avalanche defenseman alone at the top of the right circle.
Tampa Bay's Brandon Hagel played a pivotal role in the score when he was able to tie up Boldy along the boards and allow Toews to win the faceoff.
Without the stellar play of Hellebuyck in the Team USA crease, the gold medal could have easily gone the way of the Great White North.
A Gold and Silver Come Home to Tampa
At the start of these Winter Olympics, nine members of the Tampa Bay Lightning made the trip to Milan to compete in the Men's Tournament.
By the final, only two remained.
Brandon Hagel returns to Florida today with the silver medal. The Saskatoon native had a goal against France earlier in the tournament and ended the Games with a +1 rating.
Scrappy and tenacious, Hagel made several clutch contributions throughout the tournament and can hold his head high. He wore Canada's red and white with pride. His play, just as the black Maple Leaf on his sweater, stood out and shone bright; key to the team's success right until the very end.
Jake Guentzel brings home the goal medal and bragging rights in the Bolts locker room. In the tournament, Guentzel scored against Denmark on February 14th, had 13 total shots on goal, and finished with a player rating of +2.
Guentzel's name is etched among the members of the second-greatest team to represent the United States. The Miracle on Ice team of 1980 shall always be the greatest; however, the 2026 team was special and unique in its own right, securing its place in hockey lore.
They weren't the favorites. They were the underdogs on Sunday. They may not have even been the best rostered team out there.
But for 62 minutes, they were the best hockey team in the world.
As the team gathered on ice, gold around their necks, the children of fallen teammate Johnny Gaudreau with them, Guentzel beamed with pride, as did every member of the team.
This win was for Johnny. This gold was for them. And, most importantly, this triumph was for the United States of America.
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