MILAN — Jack Hughes may have sacrificed a tooth during the battle, but he left with something far more valuable: an Olympic gold medal.

For the first time since the iconic 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” the United States captured gold in men’s Olympic hockey, defeating rival Canada 2–1 in overtime on Sunday. Hughes delivered the decisive moment, scoring just 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime to seal the victory.

The game remained deadlocked thanks largely to goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who turned aside 41 shots in a spectacular performance that kept the Americans alive until the extra period.

Hughes’ game-winner came after Zach Werenski stripped Canada’s Nathan MacKinnon of the puck and fed a cross-ice pass to a wide-open Hughes, who buried the chance.

“He’s a gamer. Always has been,” said his brother, U.S. defenseman Quinn Hughes. “Mentally tough, loves the game. An American hero.”

Earlier in the third period, Hughes lost part of a front tooth after taking a high stick from Sam Bennett — a penalty that resulted in a four-minute U.S. power play.

“My first thought was to draw the penalty,” Hughes joked. “Then I looked down and saw my teeth.”

Teammate Matt Boldy added with a smile, “People will be looking at his medal, not his teeth.”

A Statement Victory

Team USA entered the tournament repeating the mantra “gold or bust” — and delivered. The triumph completed a sweep over Canada in Olympic finals, as the U.S. women’s team also claimed gold in overtime earlier in the week.

After Hughes scored, American players erupted in celebration, tossing gloves and mobbing one another at center ice.

“It was pure euphoria,” defenseman Charlie McAvoy said. “I don’t even remember who I was hugging.”

Hellebuyck’s Redemption

If Hughes authored the final chapter, Hellebuyck carried much of the story. His defining moment came in the third period when he used the paddle of his stick to deny Devon Toews on a wide-open rebound chance. He also stopped Connor McDavid on a breakaway in the second period.

“It’s one of the greatest performances ever,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “Right up there with Jimmy Craig in 1980.”

The performance was especially meaningful for Hellebuyck, who had faced criticism after a difficult 2025 Stanley Cup playoff run.

“Critics can keep talking,” Hellebuyck said. “These are the moments that matter.”

Team Effort

The Americans also killed off a crucial 5-on-3 power play in the second period and finished the tournament a perfect 18-for-18 on the penalty kill. Role players like Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller embraced their defensive responsibilities despite outside doubts about their roster spots.

“We had a job to do,” Trocheck said. “We leaned into it.”

The win marked the first time the U.S. defeated Canada in a best-on-best international tournament since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey.

Players credited their close-knit locker room, inspired in part by conversations with former U.S. legends and by honoring the memory of Johnny Gaudreau. During the celebration, several players skated with Gaudreau’s No. 13 jersey in tribute to the former American star, who died tragically in 2024. His jersey had hung in the team locker room throughout the tournament.

A Historic Finish

Boldy opened the scoring early in the game, but Canada equalized late in the second period through Cale Makar. The Canadians outshot the Americans heavily in the middle frame, yet Team USA withstood the pressure.

In the end, it was Hughes’ overtime heroics that ended decades of waiting — delivering the United States its third Olympic men’s hockey gold medal and its first in 46 years.

On Sunday in Milan, history was made once again.