The United States completed a historic double in the ice hockey event at the Winter Olympics on its final day, as the men’s team won 2-1 against long-term rivals Canada. This gold came three days after the women’s team triumphed with the same score, against the same North American neighbour.
2026 marked the third time the US women’s side had struck gold since the women’s tournament was belatedly introduced into the games in 1998. Canada took the lead one minute into the second period through a shorthanded goal by Kristin O’Neill, on a two-on-one rush with Laura Stacey.
Remarkably, this was the first goal allowed by the US in over 350 minutes, with five consecutive shutouts from their goaltending duo of Gwyneth Philips and Aerin Frankel. It looked like it might be enough, with no more pucks finding the net until right at the death, when US captain Hilary Knight deflected a point shot from Laila Edwards past Canadian goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens.
The goal by Knight took the game to three-on-three overtime, where, four minutes in, defender Megan Keller struck the hammer blow — a backhand between the five-hole of Desbiens, cueing rampant celebration. In the final Olympic games for one of the all time greats, Hilary Knight, winning gold is a fitting way to bow out.
Canada were favourites in the men’s final, but were missing their captain, Sidney Crosby. The star player picked up an injury on a hit by Czechia defenceman Radko Gudas in the quarter-final.
Matt Boldy took the lead for the US just six minutes in with their first shot on goal. The Minnesota forward went on a stunning solo rush, deking past Cale Makar and Devon Toews, before sliding a backhand past Jordan Binnington.
Connor McDavid had a breakaway stopped by on-fire US goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, which would have tied the game in the second period. Eventually, it was Cale Makar who slotted home the tying goal, blocker side on Hellebuyck, with their 25th shot on goal.
Hellebuyck’s game from the gods continued — a stunning stick save denied Toews early in the third period, before another breakaway was quashed, this time on Macklin Celebrini.
Finally, two minutes into overtime, it was New Jersey Devils centre Jack Hughes who scored the game winner, his wrist shot beating Binnington, and sending the States into pandemonium. This was their first men’s ice hockey gold at the Olympics since 1980; since the year of the Miracle on Ice.
“#21 Hilary Knight” by SaraMelikian is licensed under CC BY 2.0.