At the pinnacle of hockey, Team USA faced Team Canada for the gold medal at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, culminating Sunday in this highly anticipated matchup.
While Canada arguably controlled much of the play, it was Team USA who emerged with a historic 2-1 overtime victory on a Jack Hughes goal.
The star of the game was U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who recorded 41 saves, far outshining Canada’s offense, which managed just 26 shots on net.
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Canada’s captain and Olympic legend Sidney Crosby missed the game after suffering a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals against Czechia.
He also sat out the semifinal against Finland. Though he attempted to play on Sunday, Crosby said he didn’t feel he could contribute effectively, a sentiment he shared after breaking his silence following Canada’s heartbreaking loss.
“It’s a lot easier playing than watching,” Crosby said. “But I think everyone should be proud of the way the team performed. I thought we did everything but score. In every facet, we were so good today; I thought we deserved better, but unfortunately, we didn’t come away with the win.”
When asked how close he was to playing, Crosby added, “I was pretty close. Ultimately, I wasn’t able to go out there and do what I needed to help the team. So at that point, you have to make a decision that’s best for the group. Not an easy one, but that’s hockey.”
“I thought one of our best games was probably today, and unfortunately it didn’t work out for us. But, like I said, I’m just really proud of the group, the way we competed, and the way we played.”
To what extent Crosby could have helped is now purely speculative, given that the game has concluded. However, his leadership on the ice is something that cannot truly be replaced, especially considering he has the most Olympic experience of any player on either side.
Crosby holds the all-time points record for Olympics featuring NHL players. This was his third Olympic appearance and marked the first Games with NHL players since 2014—a year Canada, led by Crosby, won gold.
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