Canada had three of the best players in the world on the ice. Connor McDavid, three-time most valuable player and five-time point leader in the NHL; Nathan Mackinnon, a former rookie of the year and reigning MVP; and finally, Cale Makar, a Stanley Cup Champion, former rookie of the year, and two-time defensive player of the year. All of the talents and sheer athleticism of these players did them very well in the Olympics. They had five wins, which led them to face the other undefeated team, Team USA. The United States had a very talented roster, headlined by the Hughes Brothers, Jack and Quinn. In the quarterfinals, Quinn Hughes proved his skills to his country by scoring the game-winning overtime goal vs. Sweden. Jack Hughes had a decent tournament up to that point, nothing out of the ordinary for Hughes. All of this changed when the United States played Canada for the Olympic gold medal.
The game started out in favor of the United States, seeming like everything was going their way. This, too, was marked by a goal from Minnesota’s Matt Boldy on a breakaway. This would occur early in the first period, but then the game took a turn. The USA seemed to always be a step behind for the majority of the game after that. Canada had countless great scoring chances yet could not manage to score on the Winnipeg Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck. This went on until the end of the second period, where Cale Makar tied the game. The game was one-to-one going into the third period, and both teams turned defensive. There were no risks being taken, but still, Canada seemed to be quicker and overall better than the United States of America. Early in the third period, Canada had sustained pressure in the offensive zone. Canada had a shot with a chance to put themselves in the lead, but Connor Hellebuyck reached back and made one of the greatest saves in recent history, and maybe ever. This game would continue into overtime, where Jack Hughes would go on to score the golden goal, and secure the gold for the United States of America.
The USA’s men’s hockey team was undefeated in the Olympics, having a positive seventeen-point differential, and having one player in the top five scorers of the tournament: Quinn Hughes. In the Gold Medal game, Connor Hellebuyck made 41 of 42 saves, only giving up one goal, and is widely considered the MVP of the Golden Game. He performed so well that when he returned to the United States, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civilian honor. This team was not the best on paper and had to take on the best team in the world, Canada. Still, they did not doubt it ever. The last time the USA won gold in men’s hockey was forty-six years ago, as the “Miracle on Ice”, and now, the United States of America is the best in the world again.
