{allcanada} 'Not hockey': Canada's Cooper on 3-on-3 ending to gold-medal game

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For 60 minutes, Canada appeared to outplay the U.S. in Sunday's Olympic gold-medal game.

Of course, it was the Americans who came out on top when Jack Hughes scored the winning goal in three-on-three overtime.

The U.S. will forever have the gold medals from these Olympics.

But Canada head coach Jon Cooper questioned the OT format for the decisive game.

"You take four players off the ice, now hockey's not hockey anymore. There's a reason overtime and shootouts are in play — it's all TV-driven to end games, so it's not a long time. There's a reason why it's not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs," Cooper said, per Michael Traikos of The Hockey News.

Canada forward Nathan MacKinnon discusses the team's 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the gold-medal game, saying they had a bunch of prime chances to take the lead but it felt like it "wasn't meant to be.

Canada outshot the U.S. 42-28 for the game, with American goalie Connor Hellebuyck stepping up with big saves time and time again throughout the contest.

Canadian alternate captain Nathan MacKinnon put it bluntly.

"You be the judge of who was the better team today," he said, per Josh Clipperton of The Canadian Press.

Of course, all that matters when the final buzzer sounds is the scoreboard.

And that read U.S. 2, Canada 1. Final

 

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{allcanada} McDavid named MVP at Milano Cortina 2026 despite silver-medal finish

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Canadian forward Connor McDavid was named the MVP and top forward at Milano Cortina 2026 despite Canada falling to the United States 2-1 in overtime in the gold-medal game on Sunday.

McDavid led the tournament with 13 points in six games, setting a new record for NHLers at the Olympics. He finished with two goals and 11 assists.

American defenceman Quinn Hughes was named as the tournament's top defenceman while the United States' Connor Hellebuyck was the best goaltender at The Winter Olympic Games.

Hellebuyck went a perfect 5-0-0 in games he started with a .956 save percentage and 1.18 goals-against average. He was outstanding in the gold-medal game, making 40 of 41 saves to claim victory.

Hughes was instrumental in the Americans getting to the gold-medal game, leading all defencemen with eight points in the tournament.

His play was highlighted by an overtime game-winning goal in the quarter-finals against Sweden, lifting his team to the semifinal.

All three players were also named to the tournament All-Star team, joining Canadians Cale Makar, Macklin Celebrini, and Slovakian forward Juraj Slafkovsky.

Finland defeated Slovakia 6-1 on Saturday to claim the bronze medal.

 

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{allcanada} Crosby sitting out Canada's loss to U.S. 'about what's best for our group'

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MILAN -- Sidney Crosby has done so much for Team Canada and the country it represents.

The 38-year-old from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, has two Olympic gold medals, and helped Canada win the 2015 IIHF World Championship, the World Cup of Hockey 2016 and the 4 Nations Face-Off.

He's also a three-time Stanley Cup champion as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins, but what he did Sunday regarding the gold medal game of the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 proved just how dedicated he is to the country and the cause.

Crosby opted not the play for Team Canada in an eventual 2-1 overtime loss to Team USA, putting his team and his teammates before himself. A lower-body injury sustained in the quarterfinals against Team Czechia proved too much for him to overcome.

He skated Saturday, when teammates and coach Jon Cooper said he looked good, but Crosby said just getting to the point of a decision having to be made was an accomplishment.

"I just didn't feel like I was able to [play]," Crosby said. "I didn't think I'd be in that position after the Czech game. I think our medical staff was incredible and, unfortunately, I wasn't able to go."

It was a big blow for Canada to not have Crosby, whose golden goal gave Canada a 3-2 overtime win against the United States at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. He had six points (two goals, four assists) at the 2026 tournament.

Though Crosby couldn't be there to help Sunday, his decision to play didn't go unnoticed.

"I didn't know until this morning, I wasn't going to ask him," said teammate and friend Nathan MacKinnon, "but I know he did it for us. He thought he couldn't battle completely. He could've said he wanted to play, and just be on the bench, but we needed everyone and he did it for his country."

When asked how close he was to playing, Crosby said, "I don't know how you put a number on it. It's a gold medal game, Olympics. If I could play, then I'd be out there."

He said watching the speed at which the two teams played, it was even more clearer that sitting out was the right decision.

"You saw that game, it was incredible hockey," Crosby said. "It was a tough decision. In your head, you always want to be out there and find every way possible, but not at the expense of what needs to be done."

It's highly likely this is the last Olympics where Crosby will represent Canada as a player. He'll be 41 when the 2030 Olympics are played in the French Alps. Again, he said, the decision was about the team, not him.

"It might have crossed my mind," Crosby said. "But ultimately, it was about what's best for our group and what gives us the best chance to win. And it becomes pretty clear at that point if I'm not able to go, then I'm not going to compromise our team or put myself out of that. It might have crossed my mind, but ultimately, that's not how you make your decision."

Crosby did take the ice in uniform after the game, coming out with the other Canada players who did not skate. He said he watched most of it from the training room, then put on his gear with a few minutes left.

"It's just disappointment," Crosby said. "I think or numerous reasons, it's not fun when you lose, regardless of how it happens or the outcome. I just feel for the entire group and the entire situation."

 

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{allcanada} McDavid, Hellebuyck, Quinn Hughes lead Olympic all-star team

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Connor McDavid, Connor Hellebuyck and Quinn Hughes will take home medals and individual awards from the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

McDavid was voted most valuable player and best forward of the tournament by attending media. The Edmonton Oilers captain, who for the final two games was Team Canada captain in place of an injured Sidney Crosby, had 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in six games to break a record shared by Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu (11 each) at the 2006 Torino Games for most at an Olympics with NHL participation.

The Oilers return from the Olympic break when they visit the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday. McDavid's 96 points (34 goals, 62 assists) in 58 games lead the NHL, and have him contending for his sixth Art Ross Trophy and fourth Hart Trophy given to the League MVP.

Hellebuyck's 41 saves capped a performance that earned him best goaltender to give Team USA its first Olympic gold medal since the 1980 Lake Placid Games with a 2-1 overtime win against Canada. The Winnipeg Jets goalie broke Ryan Miller's record for saves (36 at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics) in a gold medal game with NHL players. He stopped McDavid on a breakaway in the second period, made a desperation stick save against Devon Toews in the opening minutes of the third and finished 5-0-0-0 with a 1.18 goals-against average and .956 save percentage.

"Hellebuyck was insane," Quinn Hughes, voted best defenseman, said in remarks published by the IIHF website. "You saw the looks they had. Canada's an insane team out there. The game's never been faster. It's never been more skilled. And they've got some special players, Hall of Famers, all over their team."

The Jets visit the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday trailing the Ducks by 11 points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference, one season after winning the Presidents' Trophy with an NHL-high 116 points. Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner (top goalie), is 13-16-7 with a 2.79 GAA and .900 save percentage.

"It's a dream come true," Hellebuyck told NBC Sports. "I love this group. We had so much fun over here, we grinded, we battled. This is some of the best and most fun hockey ever played. It still hasn't truthfully sunk in. Who knows how long it's going to last? It's surreal."

Hughes of the Minnesota Wild scored in overtime to give the U.S. a 2-1 win against Team Sweden in the quarterfinals. His eight points (one goal, seven assists) tied Sweden's Erik Karlsson (2014 Sochi Olympics) and Brian Rafalski of the U.S. (2010) for the most by a defenseman in a single tournament. Hughes and the Wild return to the NHL with a visit to the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday holding the first wild card in the West.

Quinn's brother, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes, scored the golden goal 1:41 into overtime, giving the U.S. redemption for a 3-2 OT loss to Canada in the championship game of the 4 Nations Face-Off at TD Garden in Boston on Feb. 20, 2025. He and Crosby (2010) are the two players to score in OT of an Olympic goal-medal game with NHL players.

"The USA Hockey brotherhood is so strong," Jack Hughes said. "We have so much support from our players. I'm so proud of the Americans today. USA Hockey, brotherhood, means so much."

The U.S. won Olympic gold for the third time, including the 1960 Squaw Valley Games, and defeated Canada in Milan on the 46th anniversary of when the "Miracle on Ice" team won 4-3 against the Soviet Union, two days before defeating Finland 4-2 for gold.

"This just means so much to all of us and USA Hockey," forward Jack Eichel said, per the IIHF. "There's just so much pride in wearing this jersey and being able to do something special and create our own story here. It's been a long time since USA Hockey was on top of the hockey world, so we're really proud of this moment, and I just can't say enough about the group."

The Olympic All-Star team was rounded out by Canada defenseman Cale Makar, Canada forward Macklin Celebrini and Team Slovakia forward Juraj Slafkovsky.

Makar's six points (two goals, four assists) tied 2026 teammate Drew Doughty (2014), Shea Weber (2010 and 2014), Dan Boyle (2010) and Duncan Keith (2010) for most by a Canada defenseman during a single tournament with NHL players. His goal that tied it 1-1 on Sunday made him the sixth at his position to score in a gold medal game with NHL participation (Kimmo Timonen, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Rafalski and Petr Svoboda). His 15 goals are tied for fifth in the NHL among defensemen with the Avalanche, who resume their schedule at the Utah Mammoth on Wednesday.

Celebrini, a 19-year-old forward with the San Jose Sharks, had 10 points (five goals, five assists), second in the Olympics behind McDavid. His 81 points (28 goals, 53 assists) are fourth in the League and have the Sharks contending for their first playoff berth since 2019. San Jose continues its regular season at home against the Calgary Flames on Thursday.

Slafkovsky's eight points (four goals, four assists) for fourth-place Team Slovakia were the third most by a Montreal Canadiens skater in an Olympic tournament with NHL players behind Saku Koivu (11 in 2006 and 10 at Nagano in 1998). He has 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in 57 games with the Canadiens second in the Atlantic Division ahead of their home game against the New York Islanders on Thursday.

The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 All-Star Team

Most Valuable Player
Connor McDavid, Team Canada

Tournament Directorate Three Best Players
Best Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck, Team USA
Best Defenseman: Quinn Hughes, Team USA
Best Forward: Connor McDavid, Team Canada

Media All-Star Team
Goalie: Connor Hellebuyck, Team USA
Defenseman: Quinn Hughes, Team USA
Defenseman: Cale Makar, Team Canada
Forward: Connor McDavid, Team Canada
Forward: Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada
Forward: Juraj Slafkovsky, Team Slovakia

 

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