By Ross Kelly
On Thursday, the United States National Women’s Hockey Team defeated the Canadians in the 2026 Winter Olympics gold medal match, and on Sunday, the nations will run it back, albeit on the men’s side.
The Olympic ice hockey gold medal game will, again, see the United States versus Canada from Milan, Italy. It marks the culmination of, arguably, the most anticipated event at Milano Cortina 2026, and it’s the continuation of a series between bordering nations that has been dominated by Team Canada.
The Canadians are 12-4-3 versus the United States, all-time, in Olympic play. That includes winning both of their gold medal matches (2002, 2010), not to mention the Canadians defeating the United States in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final last year. Canada is seeking its 10th Olympic gold medal in the sport, and 17th overall medal on the men’s side.
As for the United States, its only two prior appearances in the gold medal match were those two defeats to Canada. The Americans do have two gold medals to their name, including the Miracle on Ice in the 1980 Olympics, but both were won when the Olympic hockey tournament didn’t decide champions via a single match but rather through pool play.
The U.S. men do have 11 medals overall in hockey at the Olympics, and with a Sunday win, the United States can join Canada (2002, 2010, 2014) as the only countries to win gold in both men’s and women’s hockey in the same Olympic Games.
On the ice at Milano Cortina, the United States has looked every bit like the No. 1-ranked team it is. It breezed through the preliminary round, beating three European squads by a combined score of 16-5. The quarters saw the United States face its only true turbulence, when it ceded a goal to Sweden with less than two minutes in regulation to tie the score at 1-1.
However, Quinn Hughes found the back of the net in the extra period for a 2-1 win, and then the Americans easily handled Slovakia, 6-2, in the semifinals.
Canada, ranked third in the world, had a similar path, at least in group play, when it outscored its opponents 20-3 in the three contests. But knockout play has been another story, as the Canadians twice had to rally versus Czechia in the quarters before prevailing, 4-3, in overtime. Then in the semis versus Finland, Canada fell into a 0-2 hole before reeling off three straight goals for the victory.
It should be noted that Canada was without future Hall of Famer Sidney Crosby in the semis after he was hurt in the quarters, and the Pittsburgh Penguins legend is shaping up to be a game-time decision for Sunday’s matchup.
These two squads are nearly identical in terms of metrics at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Both have allowed eight goals thus far, for a 1.6 GAA, while Canada has found the net a bit more, averaging 5.4 goals compared to the United States’ 4.8 goals. In terms of power play percentage, Canada also has the edge, converting 43.8 percent, with the Americans at 28.6 percent. However, the United States is peerless when it comes to killing a power play, having not allowed a single power play goal all tournament, while Canada’s PK percentage is 72.7 percent.
This is the first Winter Olympics since 2014 that NHL players are competing, and both squads are comprised of only NHL players. The individual success thus far leans toward Canada on the offensive end of the ice, regardless of whether Crosby can suit up for Sunday.
Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers leads the Olympic Games in both points (13) and assists (11), just as he’s currently doing in the 2025-26 NHL season. Meanwhile, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, who won NHL Rookie of the Year last season, is second in tournament in points (10) and leads all players in goals (5).
Where the United States has the edge is in net with Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets. The reigning Hart winner as the NHL MVP tops the Winter Olympics in save percentage (94.74 percent) and GAA (1.23). The Americans’ leading point scorer is Hughes of the Minnesota Wild, who has accounted for seven points—tied for the sixth-most in Milan.
History will be made on Sunday, regardless of who gets a gold medal. With a United States win, Matthew Tkachuk would become the first American hockey player ever to win an Olympic gold medal the season after winning a Stanley Cup, thanks to Tkachuk’s Florida Panthers hoisting Lord Stanley last year.
With a Canada win, plenty of history would be made. Crosby and Drew Doughty already have two Olympic golds, and they would tie the all-time men’s ice hockey record by winning a third. Additionally, five Canadians—Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, Mark Stone, Darcy Kuemper—could join Crosby in the Triple Gold Club with a victory. That club consists of winning Olympic gold, the Stanley Cup, and World Championship gold. Just 30 men are currently in the Triple Gold Club, but Crosby would undoubtedly love for five of his teammates to join him there.
United States vs. Canada for the 2026 Winter Olympics men’s hockey gold medal will take place on Sunday at 8:10 a.m. ET. Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, will host the contest, and it will be broadcast on NBC and streamed on Peacock.
