Aarif Deen
Jack Hughes scored the overtime game-winning goal just 1:41 into the extra frame to lift Team USA to a 2-1 victory over Canada and their first Olympic gold medal since 1980.
Brock Nelson is coming home with gold. Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Devon Toews receive silver medals. MacKinnon and Makar, along with Connor McDavid, were the three skaters on the ice for Canada when the 3-on-3 OT goal was scored.
Nelson became a third-generation gold medalist for the Americans. His grandfather, Bill Christian, won in 1960, and his uncle, Dave Christian, was on the 1980 Miracle team, which won gold on the same day 46 years ago.
The Americans were outshot 42-28, including a 28-13 run over the final 35 minutes of regulation. The MVP of the game was far and away goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who saved at least seven grade-A opportunities for Team USA when the score was tied at 1-1.
Among those, Hellebuyck robbed Devon Toews in the crease with a desperation paddle save. He also stopped both Macklin Celebrini and McDavid on breakaways. When Canada had a 5-on-3 for 1:33, Hellebuyck was the team’s best penalty killer.
And late in the third, when Canada had 1:11 of PP time to try to secure a go-ahead goal, Hellebuyck stood tall once again.
Canada’s best chance to get ahead came from MacKinnon. He missed a wide open net on a play where Hellebuyck was looking the other way.
Makar scored the only goal for Canada, firing a shot from the circle to the left of Hellebuyck late in the second period. Makar, Toews, and MacKinnon were all on the ice when Matt Boldy scored on the first shot against Jordan Binnington to give Team USA the early 1-0 lead.