Canada, the final of the hockey tournament at the Olympic Games: “It will be a fight for posterity”

The Milan-Cortina Olympic Games ends with a long-awaited match. The final for gold in the men's hockey tournament is the last competition on the schedule for this edition. Ever since it was announced that NHL players would be participating, this has been the game many fans have been dreaming of.

LIVE. USA – Canada 0-0

The last time the two teams met for the most prestigious honor, in 2010 in Vancouver, it was a match of history. Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal in overtime. According to some last-minute information, the Canadian star will not perform in the final! The injury does not allow him.

Canada holds the record nine Olympic titles, but has not won gold since the 2014 Sochi Olympics, which last featured NHL players. The US hasn't won the title since the famous “Miracle on Ice” triumph at Lake Placid 1980, which was just their second Olympic gold medal.

“It's the best against the best. It's what every American and Canadian grows up watching, grows up loving. This is the pinnacle of sport. It's as good as it gets and a rivalry as good as it gets, so there won't be a TV in the United States and Canada that isn't showing this match.” said American forward Matthew Tkachuk, quoted by olympics.com.

His Team USA teammate, forward Dylan Larkin, added: “It's going to be a battle for posterity.”

The two finalists are unbeaten in the tournament but needed extra time to win in the quarter-finals. In the semifinals, Canada was led 2–0 by Finland before turning the score around to win 3–2 in the final minute. “I'm incredibly grateful to have made it to the finals,” admitted Canada's top scorer Connor McDavid.

How the USA and Canada made it to the finals

• CANADA

• Groups: Canada-Czech Republic 5-0; Canada-Switzerland 5-1; Canada-France 10-2

• Quarterfinals: Canada-Czech Republic 4-3, overtime

• Semifinals: Canada-Finland 3-2

• US

• Groups: USA-Latvia 5-1; USA-Denmark 6-3; USA-Germany 5-1

• Quarterfinals: USA-Sweden 2-1, overtime

• Semifinals: USA-Slovakia 6-2

This will be the 20th time the two teams have met at the Winter Olympics. Canada has won 12 of the previous meetings and the USA just four. However, Team USA prevailed 4-2 in the most recent Olympic matchup in the Beijing 2022 group stage.

Canada has a 4-1 record against its rivals in the five Olympic games involving NHL players.

The last time they met in a competition was in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final on February 20, 2025, when Team Canada defeated the USA 3-2 in overtime, with McDavid scoring the winning goal.

Will Sidney Crosby play?

It is not yet known if Sidney Crosby, who was injured in the quarter-final match against the Czech Republic, will be able to get on the ice. After Friday's semi-final, Canada coach Jon Cooper said: “He has a better chance of playing in the gold medal final than he did in the game against Finland.”

McDavid, who replaced Crosby as captain against Finland, added: “I'm keeping a warm seat for Sid. Hope to see him back here on Sunday.” QIn Crosby's absence, Nick Suzuki has played as a third-line center and will likely do the same if the valuable Canadian captain is unavailable.

The USA also has some roster issues, with forward Tage Thompson forced to the bench in the third period of Friday's 6-2 semifinal win over Slovakia due to injury.

USA-Canada, tournament numbers

Canadian superstar McDavid is the tournament's leading scorer with 13 points (2 goals and 11 assists), but also the leading passer with 11. Canadian center Macklin Celebrini, 19, is second in scoring with 10 points (5 goals and 5 assists).

Team USA's top scorer is Quinn Hughes with seven points (1 goal, plus six assists), making him the top scorer among defensemen at Milan-Cortina 2026.

The USA is dreaming of winning the Olympic title 46 years after their last success

Canada has the most goals in the tournament with 27 to Team USA's 24. He also has the best shooting percentage at 13.43%.

American goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck has the best save rate of 94.74%, conceding just five goals from the 95 shots he has had to defend. A show to watch is announced.

Finland won the bronze

The bronze final took place on Saturday night with 2022 Olympic champions Finland beating Slovakia 6–1 (0–1, 1–1, 0–4). “I feel wonderful. On Friday, we came close to reaching the final for the gold medal, but we can't change the past and I think it's great that we achieved our goal and won the bronze medal. It is an important achievement”, said Finn Roope Hintz.

Finland has won medals in five “NHL Olympics”, more than any other nation. Won the silver medal after losing 2-3 to Sweden in Turin (2006). The Finns also have three bronze medals won during this period. They surprised Canada 3-2 in Nagano (1998), came back to beat Slovakia 5-3 in Vancouver (2010) and beat the USA 5-0 in Sochi (2014).