U.S. edges Canada 2-1 in overtime to claim gold at Milano Cortina

MILANO CORTINA — The United States won Olympic gold in men’s hockey with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada, as Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into the extra frame to decide the final.

Hughes’ fourth goal of the tournament came from the left side of the offensive zone after receiving a pass from the opposite corner. With space, he snapped a shot five-hole past Jordan Binnington. Zach Werenski recorded the primary assist, while Connor Hellebuyck picked up the secondary helper on the golden goal.

The Americans opened the scoring in the first period through Matt Boldy, who delivered a highlight-reel individual effort. Boldy flipped the puck into the air, batted it forward between two Canadian defenders, and finished along the ice inside the left post to give the United States a 1-0 lead.

Canada responded late in the second when Cale Makar stepped in from the right point and wired a shot just over Hellebuyck’s stick-side pad to tie the game 1-1.

Hellebuyck, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner, stopped 41 of 42 Canadian shots for a .976 save percentage and factored into the overtime winner. Binnington made 26 saves on 28 shots for a .929 save percentage in defeat.

Neither side broke through in the third period before Hughes sealed the gold medal game early in overtime, leaving Canada with silver at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games.