The Bruins had reason to celebrate before they practiced Sunday morning when they watched teammates Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman win gold at the Winter Olympics.

Team USA earned a thrilling 2-1 overtime win against Canada to win its first gold medal since 1980.

“It was great,” coach Marco Sturm told reporters. “We had all the TV’s going. … We followed it closely. What a great hockey game. What a great game to watch globally and represent the great sport of hockey. And having a game like that — it was an even game. But good for the U.S. It was just a great hockey game.”

McAvoy came up huge for the Americans when he made a game-saving play when Tom Wilson got the puck free from Connor Hellebuyck after he tried to cover up a rebound. Wilson flipped it behind the goalie but McAvoy was there to keep the puck out of the net and keep the game tied at 1-1.

The Bruins defenseman faced a lot of adversity over the last year. A serious shoulder injury and infection cut his NHL 4 Nations Face-Off short which included a championship game between USA and Canada. McAvoy also suffered a broken jaw that required surgery earlier this season. He lost nearly 20 pounds before he returned to game action.

Then just before the Olympics McAvoy took a high elbow to his jaw. He showed in a social media post how swollen his face was because of the hit, and admitted the pain made him feel like he was “back to square one.”

“Especially with Sway, and Charlie — the things they went through the past year, two years, this year — now coming home with gold, that for me makes me happy,” Sturm said. “Of course they’re a Bruin, they’re one of us. So we’re really excited about that.”

Andrew Peeke, who won gold with USA during last year’s World Championship, knows how special it is to bring home a gold medal.

“Hockey players, fans across the world, that was pretty special to watch,” he said. “It was super nerve-racking, though, to be honest with you. Happy for Charlie and Sway. That’s obviously some of the highest of highs that you can have right there. It’s an honor.”

The Bruins return to action on Feb. 26 when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.