U.S. defeats Canada for first men’s Olympic hockey gold since 1980
MILAN — Talk about a closing ceremony.
The final medals from the Milan-Cortina Games were handed out on Sunday and these Olympics truly saved the best for last, with the U.S. men’s hockey game taking home the final gold medal with a 2-1 overtime victory over Canada.
Of course, it went into overtime. How else should a final between the United States and Canada end?
Jack Hughes, left alone on the left wing, scored the winning goal 1:41 into overtime, beating Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington cleanly and sparking a wild celebration that left the ice littered with American gloves, sticks and helmets. Canadian players watched from the bench, many with their heads in their gloved hands.
Other goals came from Matt Boldy, who gave the United States the lead early in the first period, and Cale Makar, who equalized for Canada late in the second period.
It was the 33rd gold medal of these Games for the United States and the 12th gold medal, the largest gold medal won by a U.S. team at the Winter Olympics. They finished second behind Norway, who won a record 41 medals, including 18 gold.
The title was the first won by Americans in men’s hockey since 1980 and came on the 46th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” victory over the mighty Soviets in what was essentially a semifinal at the Lake Placid Games.
The Canadian team beaten by the United States on Sunday was no less powerful. He scored 27 times during his unbeaten run to the final, with Connor McDavid scoring 13 points, a record for an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. And with NHL players returning to the Winter Games for the first time in 12 years, Canada had perhaps more elite-level marquee players than any team in Olympic history.
U.S. players celebrate immediately after beating Canada in overtime for the gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Sunday.
(David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
But it was the United States who took the lead, scoring in the sixth minute thanks to a brilliant individual effort from Boldy. The play began with Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews collecting the puck along the boards on the American side. He then fed Boldy, a Minnesota Wild forward, who threw the puck past him as he entered the Canadian zone.
Boldy had Makar and Devon Toews to beat, which he did by skating between them before feeding the puck back to Binnington for his second goal of the tournament.
Back at the Catman Café in Mansfield, Massachusetts, where Boldy’s mother, Jen, works as a bartender, the crowd stood and applauded. It was the third time in as many playoff games that Canada trailed early in the second period.
The regulatory turning point occurred in the space of three minutes, midway through the second period. First, American goalie Connor Hellebuyck stopped McDavid on a breakaway. Then, less than a minute later, the United States took two penalties 28 seconds apart, giving Canada a five-on-three numerical advantage.
American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck blocks a shot from Canadian Macklin Celebrini in the third period on Sunday.
(Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press)
As the crowd chanted “USA! USA! », Hellebuyck, who stopped 41 shots in a phenomenal effort, managed to score once again and the Americans killed both penalties. The United States finished 18 of 18 shorthanded in the tournament.
Makar, however, wasn’t denied later in the period, sending a searing wrist shot from the center of the right circle just over Hellebuyck’s arm 84 seconds before intermission. The score remained that way until Hughes’ goal.
This match was undoubtedly the most anticipated event of the Milan-Cortina Games — in North America, even in Italy. Hundreds of bars and restaurants across the United States and Canada were packed for early morning viewing parties. In Toronto, Scotiabank Arena, home of the Maple Leafs, opened at 7 a.m. and sold $15 tickets for people to watch the game on television. In Lake Placid, New York, the Olympic Center cafe opened its doors to fans at 8 a.m., while in Milan, the 14,000 people gathered in the Santa Giulia arena were a sea of Canadian red jerseys and American white jerseys.
Six times the United States has finished second to Canada in an Olympic hockey tournament, most recently in 2010, when Sidney Crosby’s overtime goal gave Canada a record ninth gold medal. Crosby, Canada’s captain, did not dress for Sunday’s game after suffering a lower-body injury earlier in the tournament.
American players celebrate after beating Canada for the gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Games on Sunday.
(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
That wasn’t the only sign this game would be different for the Americans. As the team finished its final practice in Milan on Saturday, a spider fell from the ceiling. Don’t kill him, a local volunteer warned the players. In Italy, the appearance of a spider is considered a sign of good fortune.
While the United States beat Canada in overtime in the women’s gold medal Thursday, the Milan-Cortina Games marked the first time the Americans beat Canada in both hockey finals. Canada has won men’s and women’s gold three times, in 2002, 2010 and 2014.
