logo
CanucksArmy has no direct affiliation to the Vancouver Canucks, Canucks Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Instant Reaction: Jack Hughes stuns Canada 2-1 in gold medal overtime
alt
Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Lachlan Irvine
Feb 22, 2026, 11:19 EST
Comments
Welcome back to Instant Reaction, the series here at CanucksArmy where we give you our instant reaction to every Vancouver Canucks game and ask our readers to do the same in the comments section below! Today, we’re applying our model to the  gold medla game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Starting Lineup

Once again, Sidney Crosby will miss the game with his injury sustained in the Czechia game. Someone new will have to step up and be the hero tonight.

First Period

Both teams came out with a lot of energy to open the gold medal game. No tentative fears of making a mistake, just full on attack. The Americans kicked things off with some sustained pressure in the Canadian zone but couldn’t find a shot, then Team Canada turned the tables and actually got four shots on goal in a row.
But all that Canadian pressure couldn’t give them the opening goal. Matt Boldy cuts between Devon Toews and Cale Makar and chipped the puck against the grain past Jordan Binnington.
1-0 USA.
After the goal the Canadians kept up the pressure, but couldn’t find the tying goal

Second Period

Team Canada came out FLYING in the second period. The pressure they put on the States created a breakaway chance for Connor McDavid, but he blatantly hooked on the play and couldn’t get a clean shot away.
The refs wouldn’t miss the next two American penalties though. With Jake Guentzel and McAvoy both in the box for an extended 5-0n-3, Canada’s power play couldn’t covert on that massive opportunity. The power play (unfortunately) looked a little too reminicent of a Canucks’ man advantage for anyone’s liking.
But eventually, with all the momentum swinging their way, Canada found the back of the net. Bo Horvat won the faceoff back to Toews, who found Makar across the ice, and the defending Norris winner rifled a perfect shot past the outstretched arm of Connor Hellebuyck.
1-1 tie!
The Americans very nearly got one back when they rang the puck off both posts in the dying seconds, but it stayed out.
Deep breaths, everyone.

Third Period

Toews very nearly got the tiebreaker with a rebound on the doorstep and a wide open cage, but somehow Hellebuyck juuuuust got his paddle down to deflect it away.
Then Nathan MacKinnon had a wide open shot far side and HE missed! What do we have to do to score?!
The Americans were the recipients of both a missed too many men call near the bench and a crash into the boards by Sam Bennett that high sticked Jack Hughes. Team Canada’s penalty killers successfully knocked off the first penalty, then Jack Hughes did them a favour and high sticked Horvat to erase the rest.
Canada pressed for the lead on the late man advantage, but couldn’t convert.

Overtime

It didn’t take long for a winner.
The Canadians gambled at 3-on-3 and Jack Hughes was wide open on the far side for the winner.
2-1 USA final.
I’m not gonna lie guys, this sucks.
The Canadians losing this tournament felt impossible a week ago. But the loss of Crosby to injury, the struggles to get by Czechia and Finland, and far too many missed opportunities against the USA eventually doomed them. They came so close, but in the end it didn’t matter.
Now back to your regularly scheduled *shudders* Canucks coverage.
Sponsored by bet365

Editorials

Breaking News