NHL Hockey 3d Briefing
×Olympic Hockey Gold
Team USA espn.com claimed its first Olympic men's hockey gold since 1980 with Jack Hughes' overtime goal against Canada. The victory came after Hughes scored the winner in a thrilling gold medal game that saw Team USA skate with the No. 13 jersey of the late Johnny Gaudreau before bringing his kids onto the ice for a memorable celebration. Sidney Crosby was notably absent from Canada's lineup, as coach Jon Cooper said the captain had "a lot better chance" of playing after missing the semifinal with an undisclosed injury.
Tournament Journey
Team USA espn.com dominated Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinals to set up the gold medal matchup against Canada. The Americans' path included a statement win over Slovakia that featured strong performances throughout the lineup. Meanwhile, Canada survived another one-goal thriller against their opponent, clawing back from a 2-0 deficit to win with just 35.2 seconds remaining. Finland secured bronze with a 6-1 victory over Slovakia, marking their third consecutive Olympic bronze medal with NHL players participating.
Rivalry Renewed
The gold medal game reignited hockey's greatest international rivalry, with Brady Tkachuk espn.com acknowledging the "hatred" between the teams. The matchup carried extra significance as both nations eyed building toward the 2030 Olympics. Stars like Tom Brady and Devin Booker led celebrity reactions to Team USA's golden achievement, celebrating what many called a modern "Miracle on Ice" moment for American hockey.
While Olympic hockey captured global attention, Jaromir Jagr espn.com hinted at retirement after his 38th professional season in the Czech league. The hockey world also turned its focus to future tournaments, with analysts examining which teams should make the field for upcoming competitions as selection day approaches.