Thompson Scores After Olympic Gold Honor
The Buffalo Sabres honored Tage Thompson for his Olympic gold medal win with Team USA, then watched him score the winner in a 3-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The ceremony and his game-winning goal capped an emotional night that reflected the connection between NHL teams and Olympic success. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also called criticism of the U.S. men's Olympic team 'unfortunate' as debate over Team USA's performance continues.
The U.S. men's Olympic hockey team secured its first gold medal in 46 years with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory against Canada. The win, which came on the 46th anniversary of the "Miracle on Ice," was the first for the U.S. in an Olympics featuring NHL players. New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes scored the game-winning goal 1:41 into the 3-on-3 overtime. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was a cornerstone of the U.S. victory, making 41 saves in the final match. Throughout the tournament, the U.S. team was undefeated, maintaining a perfect 6-0 record and outscoring their opponents 26-9. Tage Thompson contributed significantly to the team's success, tying for second on the team with three goals during the Olympic run. The Buffalo Sabres' pre-game ceremony for Thompson also honored his Olympic teammates from the Vegas Golden Knights, Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin. Thompson's family was present for a ceremonial puck drop with Eichel, a former Sabre. The event was a sell-out, and fans were given "TNT" (Thompson's nickname) rally towels to celebrate the occasion. The Olympic victory was followed by a controversy involving a congratulatory phone call from President Donald Trump to the men's team in their locker room. Laughter was heard from some players after the President joked he would be "impeached" if he didn't also invite the gold-medal-winning U.S. women's team to the White House, leading to accusations of sexism. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the players, stating the portrayal of the event was "unfortunate and not accurate." Bettman asserted that the men's team had no intention of slighting the women's team and that both teams were celebrating together, chanting "Two for two," in recognition of both teams winning gold. He also noted that U.S. women's captain Hilary Knight and other players did not view the men's team's actions negatively. The 2026 Milano Cortina Games marked the return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics after a 12-year absence. The league had not participated in the 2018 and 2022 games due to disputes with the International Olympic Committee and scheduling disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. An agreement reached in July 2025 cleared the way for NHL players to compete in the 2026 and 2030 Olympics.
