From the sports desk: ‘That’s American hockey right there’

From the sports desk: 'That's American hockey right there' U.S. men's hockey topples Canada in overtime, claims first Olympic gold since 1980. United States' Matt Boldy, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a men's ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. Hassan Ammar / AP Share Add NBC News to Google Feb. 22, 2026, 6:00 PM EST By The Sports Desk Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 Hello from Milan and Cortina, where the U.S. men’s hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in an overtime thriller to claim gold, Team USA’s first in the event since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team. Jack Hughes scored the game-winner while missing a few teeth. It was an electric end to the Milan Cortina Games, and our correspondents have it all covered below and at NBC News . Missed the action? Catch it all streaming on Peacock . Live from Milan Cortina After 60-plus minutes of tense, back-and-forth hockey, the gold-medal game ended in an instant. Early in overtime, Team USA sprinted up ice with a man advantage, and Zach Werenski dropped a pass to a trailing Jack Hughes , who drilled the puck into the net. USA 2, Canada 1. The Americans had won gold, 46 years to the day after the “Miracle” team upset the Soviet Union in 1980. “That’s just a ballsy, gutsy win,” Hughes said afterward on the NBC telecast. “That’s American hockey right there.” Team USA had struck first, scoring on its first shot of the game. As Matt Boldy split two defenders, he flipped the puck into the air, batted it up again, and then buried it in the net. “Somehow [the puck] just stuck with me and got lucky on the goal,” Boldy said. Canada’s Cale Makar tied the game on a laser in the second period, and Canada kept attacking U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck . But he finished with 41 saves, which allowed Hughes to win the game in overtime. “Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck,” Hughes said. “He was our best player ...