The Vegas Golden Knights will have two Olympic gold medalists in their locker room after Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin helped Team USA defeat Canada 2-1 in overtime Sunday in Milan.
Jack Hughes scored 1:41 into the 3-on-3 extra period to give the United States its first men’s hockey gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” team. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck made 41 saves, including a crucial paddle stop on Devon Toews in the third period.
“It’s a dream come true,” Hellebuyck said. “I love this group. We’ve had so much fun over here. We’ve grinded, we’ve battled. This is some of the best and most fun hockey I’ve ever played.”
Eichel led all U.S. forwards in ice time with 20:14 and registered three shots. Hanifin played 6:03. Both earned their first Olympic medals.
Canada settled for silver for the first time since 1994. Knights captain Mark Stone played 14:53, winger Mitch Marner had one shot in 17:45, and defenseman Shea Theodore logged 8:58 in their first Olympic appearances. Knights coach Bruce Cassidy also earned a silver medal as an assistant on Canada’s staff.
Canada captain Sidney Crosby missed the game with a lower-body injury. The U.S. defeated Canada in a gold-medal game for the first time in three tries, having lost in 2002 and 2010.
“Dating back to 1980, it’s been a long time,” Eichel said. “I know the 1980 team did and what that meant for generations that came after in USA Hockey. We wrote our own story here. It’s a really proud moment for every guy in that room, every person that’s a part of the team.”
Minnesota Wild winger Matt Boldy opened the scoring six minutes into the first period. Colorado defenseman Cale Makar tied it in the second with a goal that came during a furious Canadian push.
Canada goalie Jordan Binnington made 26 saves in the loss.
Hughes lost some teeth after taking a stick to the mouth from Sam Bennett in the third period. “I looked on the ice and saw my teeth,” said Hughes, who had a tooth knocked out in an NHL game a few years ago. “I was like, ‘Here we go again.'”
Canada coach Jon Cooper criticized the use of 3-on-3 overtime to decide the gold medal. “You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore,” he said. “There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play — it’s all TV driven to end games.”
The Knights return to practice Monday. The six players who competed in the Olympics are expected back Tuesday or Wednesday.
