Team USA was able to force overtime in the men’s ice hockey gold medal game against Canada on Sunday and Jack Hughes sent them home with a gold medal at the Winter Olympics.
Hughes scored early into the overtime period, getting the puck past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binngton. The U.S. won the game, 2-1, picking up the first gold since the “Miracle on Ice” squad did it in 1980. It also came on the 46th anniversary of the U.S. upsetting the Soviet Union in the Olympic semifinal.
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American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s play was equally, if not more, important in the win. He stopped 40 shots and survived onslaughts in the second and third periods.
Canada’s Devon Toews had a shot to bury one behind Hellebuyck but the American netminder tapped the puck away. Canada’s offense turned up a notch after that as Nathan MacKinnon had a chance for a top-shelf goal and missed.
Team USA and Canada then cleared six minutes’ worth of penalties. Sam Bennett received a double minor for a high sticking of Jack Hughes. But the U.S. couldn’t capitalize. Hughes was then called for his own penalty and Canada couldn’t score despite more great chances.
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Matt Boldy put the U.S. on the board in the first period when he tapped the puck to himself and split Toews and Cale Makar to get past Binnington. The U.S. had a 1-0 lead going into the first intermission.
Canada failed to score on the U.S. on a 5-on-3, but Makar buried one past Hellebuyck minutes later.
American players held up the jersey of Johnny Gaudreau as they honored the late NHL star who died last year.
It’s the third gold medal for U.S. men’s hockey.
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