MILAN — For much of Sunday’s gold medal final every time the chant of “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” started it was quickly drowned out by “CAN-A-DA! CAN-A-DA! CAN-A-DA!” from largely Canadian crowd.
Jack Hughes would give the Americans the last word.
Hughes’ overtime goal gave Team USA a 2-1 victory and its first Olympic gold medal in nearly a half-century, igniting a chorus of “U-S-A! U-S-A! U-S-A!” that echoed through Canada’s stunned silence at Milano Cortina Ice Hockey Arena and across two countries on either side of the border.
Canada outshot the U.S. 41-26 during regulation but couldn’t find a second goal, and then had to survive a potentially fatal double minor on Sam Bennett late in the third period.
Bennett caught Hughes in the face during play along the boards behind the Canada goal. Team Canada would play two men down for four of the regulation’s final 6:49.
Canada withstood the U.S. power play for nearly 3 minutes when Hughes, himself, was called for high sticking with 3:23 remaining. After both teams played at full strength for 49 seconds.
Again Canada missed a series of chances. Sam Reinhart missed wide. So did Macklin Celebrini before regulation ran out.
The U.S. struck first Sunday.
Team USA forward Matt Boldy picked up the puck near his own blue line, flipped it between two defenders and bore down on Canada goalie Jordan Binnington, juking before flipping a backhand past him for a 1-0 lead with 14:00 remaining in the opening period.
Canada dominated the second period but missed two prime scoring opportunities. The first came with 14 minutes left in the period when Connor McDavid broke loose into the open with only U.S. goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to beat but couldn’t get a shot off before skating into Hellebuyck.
The second came when Team USA’s Charlie McAvoy was whistled for hooking at 10:33 and then Jake Guentzel was penalized for holding 28 seconds later.
But Canada couldn’t take advance of the two-man advantage and the U.S. continued to lead until Team Canada defender Cale Makar scored with 1:44 left in the second period. After a face off on the U.S. end the puck got tied up along the boards before Canada defender Devon Toews found Makar wide open at the top of the right face off circle where he flicked shot over Hellebuyck’s right shoulder inside the post.
Toews missed an opportunity to put Canada up early in the third period. On the edge of the crease, an open space in the goal right in front of him, Toews somehow sent a shot wide of the goal.
Canada missed another prime scoring chance at 15:40 when Celebrini hopped on a blocked shot deflection near his own blue line streaked toward the U.S., firing a low shot that struck Hellebuyck’s outstretched right pad. With just inside 11 minutes remaining, Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon hit the post.
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