USA Leads Canada 1-0
Matt Boldy scored early to give Team USA a 1-0 lead over Canada in the Olympic gold medal game, marking the third such matchup where the Americans struck first. Tom Wilson delivered a massive hit on Dylan Larkin during the game, sparking debates on physicality. Matthew Tkachuk called it one of those unforgettable NHL-career games amid the pressure.
- This marks the third time the USA and Canada have faced off in the men's Olympic hockey gold medal game since the inclusion of NHL players; Canada won both previous encounters in 2002 and 2010. - The United States is vying for its first men's hockey gold medal since the "Miracle on Ice" at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics. Canada's last gold medal victory was in 2014. - Both teams entered the gold medal match with undefeated records in the tournament. The U.S. advanced to the final after a 6-2 victory over Slovakia, while Canada secured its spot with a 3-2 win against Finland. - Canadian captain Sidney Crosby, who scored the game-winning goal in overtime against the U.S. in the 2010 gold medal game, was ruled out of this game due to a knee injury. - American goal-scorer Matt Boldy previously won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship and was the 12th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. - Matthew Tkachuk is a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers and comes from a notable hockey family; his father Keith is a member of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. - Overall, Canada has won a record nine Olympic gold medals in men's hockey, while the United States has won two. - The last major international meeting between the two nations was the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, where Canada also defeated the U.S. in the final.
