With the U.S. women's team already enjoying their gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Team USA men's team will take on Team Canada in a highly anticipated heavyweight battle for the gold medal on Sunday.
Team USA easily defeated Slovakia 6–2 at the Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
The United States has not won a gold medal since a scrappy group of college players led by coach Herb Brooks defeated one of the greatest teams in hockey history, the venerable Soviet Union, in 1980; The game that became known as the Miracle on Ice.
The United States has won several times since the NHL began sending players to the Olympics, but the Americans have never won when involving NHL players. Extremely close moments, including a loss to Canada in 2002 and again in Vancouver in 2010 behind Sidney Crosby's overtime "golden goal".
On Friday, second-seeded USA took an early lead against its rival, third-seeded Slovakia. Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin entered the offensive zone after a one-two, but still deflected a wrist shot past Slovakia goaltender Samuel Hlavaj at only 4:19 in the game.
Hlavaj is in the Minnesota Wild organization and playing for the Iowa Wild.
At the end of the first period, Team USA scored a power play goal to take a 2–0 lead. Buffalo Sabers center Tage Thompson blasted a one-timer from the left circle into a very narrow spot, over Hlaváz's shoulder but below the crossbar. The 6-foot-6 Thompson hit a one-timer at 19:19 of the first period.
Later in the second round, the United States took the lead in the game.
New Jersey Devils star center Jack Hughes danced around the offensive zone, playing with the puck as if it was on a string. After dodging a few defenders, Hughes hit a wrist shot with 7:46 remaining in the second minute.
Just 19 seconds later, Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel put the dagger in Latvia with a goal with 7:27 remaining in the second period.
Latvia made a goalkeeper swap to Slovakian league goalkeeper Stanislav Skorvanec, but it made no difference.
J. Hughes struck again with 1:36 remaining in the second period. Zach Werenski's shot went across the net but bounced off the back wall and past Hughes in the left circle. Hughes played the bounce perfectly with a quick shot into the yawning cage, before Skvoranek could move sideways to snatch the near post.
Brady Tkachuk scored his second goal of the third period when he scored with a backhand shot with 9:08 remaining to give the US a 6–1 lead.
Early in the third period, Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slavkowski scored the first goal for Latvia after a pass between USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and his defenseman. Pavol Regenda converted a point-blank opportunity long after the contest had left the game, and put it past Hellebuyck with 6:43 remaining.
Hellebuyck stopped 22 of 24 shots. USA scored 39 runs on the target.
Earlier on Friday, Canada defeated Finland controversially 3-2 to enter the championship round. Canada has won the last two Olympic Games that included NHL players, winning gold in 2010 and 2014. Canada also won the gold medal in 2002.
Team USA Notes
Shortly before Hughes' first goal, the referee waived a potential American tally due to Jake Guentzel's elite kicking speed.
As expected, the shots were one-sided in favor of the Americans. The courageous Latvians kept the game close until the final burst, but after 40 minutes the shot clock was 26–13 to the United States.
The three goals of the second period were on shots 22, 23 and 24, while the USA had allowed only 10 shots up to that point.
Thompson, who had a goal and an assist, was not on the bench for the third period due to injury. The team announced that they held Thompson out of the one-sided game for "precautionary" reasons.
The gold medal game is Sunday at 8:10 a.m. Eastern time. NBC and its streaming service Peacocks will broadcast the game.
Slovakia will face Team Finland for the bronze medal on Saturday.
