{"id":467251,"date":"2026-02-22T20:36:21","date_gmt":"2026-02-22T20:36:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/467251\/"},"modified":"2026-02-22T20:36:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-22T20:36:21","slug":"usa-beats-canada-macklin-celebrini-on-hughes-goal-for-olympic-gold-medal-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/467251\/","title":{"rendered":"USA beats Canada, Macklin Celebrini on Hughes goal for Olympic gold medal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Macklin Celebrini\u2019s experience<\/a> at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games ended in heartbreak.<\/p>\n

Forward Jack Hughes scored at the 18:19 mark of 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a thrilling 2-1 win<\/a> over Celebrini and Canada in the men\u2019s hockey gold medal game on Sunday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.<\/p>\n

On the winning goal, Hughes, in the defensive zone, chipped the puck past Canadian defenseman Cale Makar at the blue line to start a rush up the ice. Defenseman\u00a0Zach Werenski then won the race to the loose puck, fought off a check from Nathan MacKinnon deep in the Canadian zone, and found Hughes, who beat Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington with a wrist shot to set off a wild celebration for Team USA.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is all about our country right now,\u201d Hughes told NBC. \u201cI love the USA, I love my teammates. It\u2019s unbelievable. The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong. We have so much support from our players. I\u2019m so proud of the Americans today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Celebrini, the standout second-year player for the San Jose Sharks, could only watch from the bench as the Americans won their first gold medal in men\u2019s hockey since 1980, when the Miracle on Ice team shockingly stood atop the podium in Lake Placid, N.Y.<\/p>\n

Minutes after the game, Celebrini, like most of his teammates, stood expressionless on the ice as a silver medal was placed around his neck. After the American players accepted their gold medals, \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d was played and sung loudly as the American flag was raised above the flags of Canada and Finland, which won the bronze medal on Sunday, to the rafters.<\/p>\n

The Americans also won gold in the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley. Canada was seeking its third straight gold medal at an Olympic Games that featured NHL players after winning in 2010 and 2014.<\/p>\n

Celebrini was named to the all-tournament team, but he and his teammates no doubt felt they let this one slip through their grasp.<\/p>\n

Still, this was a game for the ages.<\/p>\n

Canada carried play for most of the second and third periods, outshooting Team USA 27-16. But aside from allowing a second-period goal to Makar, American goalie Connor Hellebuyck was brilliant, finishing with 41 saves.<\/p>\n

The Canadians killed a double-minor penalty for high-sticking to forward Sam Bennett, a four-minute man advantage that was cut short by a high-sticking penalty on Hughes with 3:23 left in the third period.<\/p>\n

Celebrini had a couple of tremendous scoring chances during Canada\u2019s power play, including one right beside the American net, and had a team-leading six shots on goal through three periods. But he was unable to beat Hellebuyck, who had 40 saves through regulation time.<\/p>\n

JACK HUGHES. THE MOMENT THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER. pic.twitter.com\/Scbe23okx8<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Celebrini had two shots on goal during a 5-on-3 power play midway through the second period as Canada trailed by a goal.<\/p>\n

But the Americans were able to kill the penalties to Jake Guentzel and Charlie McAvoy and hold onto their slim lead.<\/p>\n

The Canadians broke through at the 18:16 mark of the second period. After a faceoff win in the Americans\u2019 zone, Makar took a pass from defense partner Devon Toews, skated toward the net, and beat Hellebuyck to the far side for his second goal of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Celebrini had a breakaway chance with just under 15 minutes left in the third period, but his low shot at the end of a shift was stopped by Hellebuyck. Shortly afterward, Celebrini\u2019s linemate at times during the tournament, MacKinnon, missed a wide-open net on a shot from close range.<\/p>\n

Matt Boldy opened the scoring for the Americans at the 6:00 mark of the first period.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Wild forward took a pass from San Ramon-born center Auston Matthews at his blue line, carried the puck into the neutral zone, and then chipped it ahead to himself in the offensive zone between Canadian defensemen Makar and Toews. In alone, Boldy then slid a backhand shot past goalie Jordan Binnington for his second goal of the tournament.<\/p>\n

Another game between the Americans and Canadians had been eagerly anticipated since the two countries met in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Feb. 20, 2025. The game went to overtime before Connor McDavid scored to give Canada a 3-2 win. The Americans reversed that sudden-death fortune Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust a resilient group, top to bottom, we\u2019re a team,\u201d Matthews, the American team\u2019s captain, told CBC. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who gets it done, it\u2019s all about the team first. There\u2019s no individual, and it\u2019s just a special group of guys; we\u2019re all so close.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came so close last year in the 4 Nations, and it was even closer here, and to get it done, it\u2019s such an incredible feeling. It feels so good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Celebrini wasn\u2019t on Canada\u2019s roster for that event, but he made a huge impact for his home country in the first Olympic Games with NHL players since 2014.<\/p>\n

Celebrini, the youngest NHL player in the Olympics, entered Sunday as the tournament\u2019s second-leading scorer with 10 points, as his five goals in five games led all skaters.<\/p>\n

Celebrini had the second assist on MacKinnon\u2019s go-ahead goal with 35.2 seconds left in the third period, propelling Canada to a 3-2 win over Finland. Celebrini, remarkably, finished with 25:53 in ice time in that game, more than any other Canadian player, including Makar (25:14) and McDavid (25:20).<\/p>\n

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