Team Canada and Team USA have just wrapped up a tremendous men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Going into the second intermission tied 1-1, you knew the actual would be ferocious. This was further fueled by a dust up in front of the benches to end the period. The third ended after a couple power plays. But what more fitting way to decide this game than overtime. Four years of bragging rights on the line for Olympic hockey.
Canada and USA With Another Dramatic Final
This game was a great showdown of the two countries’ amazing superstars of the sport. They are even former teammates at a best-on-best tournament for Team North America, too. This matchup featured Toronto Maple Leaf and Edmonton Oiler captains going head-to-head, Auston Matthews versus Connor McDavid.
Canada and USA have had classic showdowns in recent times. The fights in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, followed by an overtime classic in the final. And even though it was 16 years ago now, it was only the third more recent Olympics involving NHLers. That Olympic tournament, of course, ended with Sidney Crosby‘s Golden Goal against Ryan Miller and Team USA in overtime, as well.
Unfortunately, the stage was set even before puck drop. Sidney Crosby, Canada’s captain, was ruled out of action today, due to an injury sustained in the quarterfinal game versus Team Czechia. Someone on Canada would need to step up.
Canada knew the skill of the Team USA defence and their threat on the offensive side of the puck. This could be a differentiator, in a very tight matchup. Any little advantage would hopefully be a deciding factor.
You knew the game would be physical. Whether it was Matthew or Brady Tkachuk for USA and Sam Bennett or Brandon Hagel for Canada. These guys are here for their toughness, and that’s not to mention their involvement in those 4 Nations fights.
The First Chapter of the Epic Matchup
The Tkachuk brothers started the game with Jack Eichel and Canada loaded up with their big “nuclear” line. The Canadian line was Nathan MacKinnon joining McDavid and Macklin Celebrini. The Americans were able to pin Canada in deep on that first shift. Even to the point of being able to get a line change in. It was a good start for Team USA. However, you knew Canada would quickly bounce back. Their next shift they did generate a chance, but Celebrini was unable to generate a rebound chance off of his shot.
It was about five minutes in and Tom Wilson made his presence felt, literally. He flattened Dylan Larkin behind the net. Canada followed it up with a two more big hits, later on in the sequence.
However, the States were not to be outdone, pretty well the next shift. Matt Boldy saw his opportunity. He played the puck ahead of himself, and went in on the all-world pairing of Devon Toews and Cale Makar. He was able to get the puck passed Toews, and went in with a beautiful, soft touch on the backhand on Jordan Binnington. It was the first shot on goal of the game by USA.
The wild pace of the play continued with chances seemingly coming every shift. There was Brady Tkachuk turnover that resulted in a slot chance thwarted by Connor Hellebuyck. To stay with the Tkachuk theme, Matthew had an opportunity, but a soft pass weak side was unable to find a friendly American stick.
The game did seem like the ref’s had put their whistles away. However, Shea Theodore was called for an infraction late in the first. This gave the ultra-skilled American power play an opportunity. Canada did well to keep the Americans to the outside. That was a big, potential momentum building kill to the the late power play.
The Second Was No Calmer
To start the second, this was a spot both teams had dominated this tournament. Coming into today’s game, USA had outscored their opponents 12-1. Meanwhile, Canada had done similarly, at an 8-1 count. Now, for Canada 9-1 and USA 12-2.
The big Canadian line had a good chance early, but McDavid’s shot was directed behind the net by Hellebuyck. Moreover, Canada kept pressing and Harley hit the side of the post on a long-range shot. Canada continued its pressure, with another big hit by Tom Wilson. The plays kept coming both way, and Binnington was huge in an open shot from Tage Thompson. It was a warning, that despite their ability to control the pace of play, the Canadian team needed to remain disciplined defensively. Thompson was again denied on a backhand deke down low, a possible game-saving play in such a tight battle.
The Refs Make their Impact
You could tell the game was a battle featuring two very evenly matched opponents, and despite their NHL team allegiances, that was all thrown out the window.
Then, the game really started to pick up. Jake Guentzel with a hook on Brandon Hagel was called. That was after Brock Faber got away with the stick in the hands of McDavid on a breakaway. Canada to the power play.
On the power play, Makar broke in and drew a hooking on Charlie McAvoy. The call put Canada on a 5-on-3 for a lengthy 93 seconds. In contrast, it turned into the Connor Hellebuyck show, as he denied Macklin Celebrini on a couple point-blank chances.
Canada did do a good job of maintaining their push, despite the failed 5-on-3. Makar again making plays, came in for a one timer unmarked on the right side, denied by Hellebuyck. He followed up with trying to get the loose puck. However, it sparked some pushing and shoving. Matthew Tkachuk with a hard push into the boards on Makar, but Canada did well to not retaliate. It wasn’t long afterward that Canada would be rewarded for their discipline. Cale Makar with a open shot, again down the right side, found the hole low blocker on Helly, it is a 1-1 hockey game. What more do you want?
Would the Third Be the Final Frame?
The third period would be rocket fueled. It wasn’t too long in, and Mitch Marner had control in the US zone. He played it in front, and Devon Toews had a wide open cage. However, Hellebuyck was another possible game-saving play, as he got his stick on the puck, to direct it into the corner. Again, it wasn’t too long after, and Helly was equal to the task. This time it was a Macklin Celebrini breakaway he denied. It was really down to the wire.
The high-impact events were coming fast and furious. MacKinnon missed an open cage, and a potential too-many-men penalty went uncalled.
Then, a hard high stick from Bennett to Jack Hughes gave a four-minute power play to USA. The best chance, Brady Tkachuk was unable to knock a loose puck in. Canada did well to kill it off. In a twist of fate perhaps, Jack Hughes nullified the power play with a high stick on Bo Horvat. There was only 3:23 left on the clock.
Despite a late push by the big guys on Canada, a couple Celebrini shots were unable to find twine. And call it destiny, but who thought we weren’t headed for overtime, really.
The Deciding 3v3 Overtime
Who would get the winner? Canada, USA, McDavid, Matthews? It was a tremendous ending between two hockey greats. What an Olympics. Binner with an absolute larceny on Quinn Hughes to start overtime. And Hughes wins it, Jack. What a game. On a great feed from Werenski. A truly brilliant finish!
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images