It all comes down to this on the final day of the Milan Cortina Olympics: Team USA vs. Canada for the gold medal in men’s hockey.
The U.S. is looking for its first medal in men’s hockey since 2010, when it won silver behind Canada, and its first gold medal since 1980’s “Miracle on Ice” squad toppled the Soviet Union team. Canada’s last medal was bronze at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang.
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While Canada has historically had the upper hand in the rivalry, writes Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Eisenberg, the Americans arrived in Milan with the strongest roster they’ve ever brought to an Olympics and the belief that it is at last their time again. The U.S. can’t match Canada’s array of top-tier attacking talent, but the Americans have a three-time Vezina Trophy winner in goal and some of the NHL’s top defensemen.
“You want to go through the best and right now that’s them,” U.S. defender Quinn Hughes said. “If we played them in a best-of-seven, it would probably go seven. On Sunday, it’s just going to be whoever is better on that day.”
Date: Sunday, February 22
Start time: 8:10 a.m. ET
Location: Milano Santagiulia IHO Arena
TV channel, live stream: NBC, Peacock
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest updates from the Olympics men’s ice hockey final, featuring Team USA against Team Canada:
Live30 updates
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 7:10 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Connor Hellebuyck stones another scoring chance for Canada, denying Macklin Celebrini on a breakaway.
Canada has an 8-1 shot advantage seven minutes into the third period.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 7:06 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Canada’s Devon Toews had a fantastic chance at a goal in front of the U.S. net, with the right side wide open after Connor Hellebuyck stopped a shot by Mitch Marner.
However, Hellebuyck got just enough of his pad on Toews’ shot to save a goal. Had Toews kept the puck on the ice, rather than try to flip it in, Canada may have taken the lead.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 7:04 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Canada battered U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck in that second period, giving them a 28-16 advantage in shots going into the third period.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:53 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Brock Faber nearly gave Team USA the lead back before the second period ended, hitting the post with a shot.
As the period ended, Brad Marchand and Matt Boldy mixed it up in front of the USA bench. USA’s Charlie McAvoy and Vincent Trocheck tussled with Canada’s Drew Doughty and Sam Bennett as well.
Tied at 1-1, this third period should be memorable.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:46 AM PST
Jay Busbee
MILAN — Canada was far more aggressive than the United States this period, outshooting the Americans 19-8, and it finally paid off 18:16 into the period when Makar lasered a shot past Hellebuyck.
-Prior to that, the penalty kill was a massive momentum shift. Canada had a 5×3 advantage for 1:42 and squandered a golden – pardon the pun – opportunity.
-Hellebuyck’s shutdown of McDavid’s breakaway also took the air out of the substantial Canadian contingent here.
-The fans were virtually silent for the final 30 seconds of the power play, the tension and anxiety almost visible in the air.
-Unrelated to the game, but the way that the organist trots out standards like “Jeremiah Was A Bullfrog” gives this the feel, every so often, of a Wednesday-night half-price ticket game in November.
-Very much related: Now we got ourselves a ballgame.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:41 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Well, if Cale Makar showed some frustration earlier, he alleviated it by tying the game at 1-1. He was wide open on the left side, taking a pass from Devon Toews and slapped a shot past Connor Hellebuyck.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:38 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Cale Makar slapped at Connor Hellebuyck’s glove after the U.S. goalie stopped his shot from the left crease. Perhaps showing some frustration at Canada not being able to capitalize on its opportunities.
Matthew Tkachuk and Dylan Larkin didn’t care for that and shoved Makar into the boards and a brief tussle ensued behind the net.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:34 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:28 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Connor Hellebuyck has been excellent in goal, but Team USA’s defense has also been strong in front of him. During Canada’s 5-on-3 power play, they really didn’t get any good scoring chances.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:26 AM PST
Jay Busbee
MILAN — Canada had almost two full minutes of a two-man advantage and couldn’t convert it into a goal. The crowd was almost silent during the final 30 seconds of the power play, the tension thick in the arena.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:23 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Connor Hellebuyck has been outstanding thus far in goal for the U.S. Connor McDavid broke free up the ice, taking a pass from Mitch Marner and had a scoring chance.
However, Brock Faber tied McDavid up, preventing him from getting a shot on goal despite closing right in on Hellebuyck. (Canadian fans might say Faber slashed McDavid and should’ve been called for a penalty.)
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:15 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Devon Toews made a risky pass from behind the Canada net, which was picked off by Brock Nelson in front of the goal. Jordan Binnington stopped the shot, bailing Toews out.
A USA goal there would have been dispiriting for Canada, which has kept most of the action in the U.S. defensive zone early in the second period.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:10 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
The second period is underway and USA goalie Connor Hellebuyck just stopped a shot by Connor McDavid, who got free on the right side with a pass from Nathan MacKinnon.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 6:05 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Ask USA’s Dylan Larkin about how hard-hitting this game has been. Canada’s Tom Wilson laid him out with a hit behind the U.S. net early in the first period.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 5:51 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
The U.S. and Canada each have eight shots on goal as the first period ends. At one point, Canada had a 7-2 advantage, so Team USA really increased the pressure late in the period, helped by a power play opportunity.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 5:48 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Canada successfully killed the penalty and almost got a scoring chance after Shea Theodore left the penalty box.
Drew Doughty picked off a pass and fired up the ice to Theodore, who couldn’t get control of the puck near the USA goal. That wouldn’t have been a short-handed goal, but it was close.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 5:48 AM PST
Jay Busbee
Here’s what we observed from inside the arena in Milan (in the very top row, but hey, inside is inside):
-US is in no way intimidated or overwhelmed by the moment. Met the initial Canadian surge of energy and didn’t flinch.
-The Boldy goal shook the Canada crowd. They never regained their mojo all period.
-The hits here are LOUD. They echo, and every hit is accompanied by a bloodthirsty OHHHHHH from the crowd.
-During timeouts, the Olympics mascot is handing out boxes of pasta. I have seen Olympic medalists celebrating less than fans here who scored some free pasta.
-Late in the first, the arena DJ started playing Rush, which ought to be ruled an unfair advantage for Canada.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 5:43 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
A hooking penalty on Canada’s Shea Theodore gives the U.S. its first power play with three minutes remaining in the first period.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 5:36 AM PST
Ian Casselberry
Nick Suzuki had an excellent scoring chance in front of the net for Canada after Brady Tkachuk inadvertently passed to him in the slot while trying to clear the puck from the boards.
Connor Hellebuyck stopped the point-blank shot, however. Tkachuk is surely thankful.
Sun, February 22, 2026 at 5:32 AM PST
Jay Busbee
In case this becomes relevant later:
Your refs.