NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Olympic Hockey Gold
Team USA espn.com claimed Olympic gold in men's hockey with Jack Hughes scoring the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime. Connor Hellebuyck stopped 41 shots as the Americans defeated Canada 3-2, ending a 44-year drought since the Miracle on Ice.
Canada's captain espn.com Sidney Crosby was scratched from the gold medal game due to an undisclosed injury. Coach Jon Cooper had earlier suggested Crosby had "a better chance" of playing after missing the semifinal, but the star center ultimately couldn't suit up for the championship match.
Tournament Highlights
Finland espn.com secured bronze with a dominant 6-1 victory over Slovakia, marking their third consecutive Olympic medal with NHL players participating. The Finns have now medaled in every Olympics since NHL players began competing.
Brady Tkachuk espn.com acknowledged the intense rivalry before the gold medal game, describing the hatred between the U.S. and Canada. The American forward emphasized that defeating their northern neighbors was essential to achieving their ultimate goal.
Tournament Journey
Team USA espn.com honored fallen NHL star Johnny Gaudreau throughout their Olympic run, with his brothers Matthew and Katie serving as honorary captains. The emotional tribute added significance to their championship victory.
Canada espn.com survived another nail-biter in the semifinals, overcoming a 2-0 deficit to tie the game before scoring the winner with just 35.2 seconds remaining. The cardiac Canadians advanced to their third consecutive gold medal game.
Jaromir Jagr espn.com hinted at retirement after his 38th professional season with hometown Kladno Knights in the Czech league. The NHL legend's potential departure marks the end of one of hockey's most storied careers spanning nearly four decades.
NCAA hockey espn.com teams are on the bubble as selection day approaches, with analysts examining which programs will make the 16-team bracket and which will be left sweating out the final decisions.