USA‑Canada Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Clash Set for Feb 22 Amid Cheating Allegations
Updated (13 articles)
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Image: NewsweekNathan MacKinnon #29 of Canada celebrates his goal with Sam Reinhart #13 of Canada during the Men’s Semifinal match between Canada and Finland on day fourteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Source Full size -
Image: NewsweekNathan MacKinnon #29 of Canada celebrates his goal with Sam Reinhart #13 of Canada during the Men’s Semifinal match between Canada and Finland on day fourteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. Source Full size
Gold‑Medal Game Scheduled for Feb 22 at 8:10 a.m. ET The men’s final will be played Sunday, Feb 22, at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, kicking off at 8:10 a.m. Eastern (2:10 p.m. Milan) on NBC in the U.S. and CBC in Canada[3]. Both squads entered the tournament unbeaten, with the United States posting a 24‑8 goal differential and Canada a 27‑8 differential[2]. This marks the NHL’s return to the Olympics after a 12‑year hiatus, featuring dozens of current NHL stars[3]. Betting markets list Canada as a 1½‑goal favorite, continuing its historic dominance with nine gold medals[3].
Semifinal Wins Delivered by Power‑Play Goals and Depth Scoring The United States defeated Slovakia 6‑2 on Feb 20, scoring four goals on 23 shots in the second period and preserving a flawless 12‑for‑12 penalty kill[5][6]. Scorers included Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk[6]. Canada rallied from a 2‑0 deficit to beat Finland 3‑2, with Nathan MacKinnon’s late power‑play goal providing the winner after Shea Theodore’s second‑period tally[9]. Sidney Crosby missed the semifinal due to a knee injury, prompting Connor McDavid to wear the “C” and set an Olympic points record for an NHL player[9].
Star Players and Injuries Define Final Rosters The U.S. lineup highlights the Tkachuk brothers (Brady and Matthew) and the Hughes brothers (Quinn and Jack), described as the tournament’s top American performers[3]. Canada’s captaincy passes to Connor McDavid after Crosby’s injury, while Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar and teen phenom Macklin Celebrini anchor the Canadian line‑up[8]. Crosby’s participation remains uncertain, though coach Jon Cooper expressed hope for his return[2]. Both teams feature multiple NHL All‑Stars, raising the competition level to the highest seen at an Olympic Games[8].
Finland Chamber Accuses Canada of Cheating Over Power‑Play Goal Finland Chamber of Commerce CEO Juho Romakkaniemi posted that MacKinnon “lifted Niko Mikkola’s stick to his own face” before scoring, claiming the referees erred by calling only a penalty on MacKinnon[1]. A new video analysis suggests MacKinnon may have deliberately guided Mikkola’s stick into his own face to create the power‑play opportunity[1]. The allegation has been labeled “a shameful day for hockey” by Romakkaniemi, adding controversy to the upcoming final[1].
Sources
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1.
*Newsweek*: USA vs Canada Olympic Gold Medal Game Marred by Cheating Allegations – Highlights pre‑game rivalry remarks, semifinal comeback details, and Finland Chamber’s cheating claim, emphasizing the controversy surrounding MacKinnon’s power‑play goal.
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2.
AP: U.S. and Canada Set for Olympic Hockey Gold Showdown Sunday** – Provides overview of the final, team statistics, unbeaten records, and Crosby’s injury uncertainty.
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3.
King5: U.S. and Canada set to battle for men’s hockey gold at Milan‑Cortina 2026** – Details broadcast times, NHL return, captaincy shift to McDavid, and betting odds favoring Canada.
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4.
AP: U.S. and Canada Advance to Men’s Hockey Final at Milan 2026 Olympics** – Reports semifinal victories, key scorers (MacKinnon, Hughes, Eichel), and line‑person intervention in the U.S.‑Slovakia game.
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5.
AP: U.S. Beats Slovakia 6‑2, Sets Up Gold‑Medal Clash With Canada** – Focuses on U.S. offensive performance, Werenski’s comments, and coach Sullivan’s precautionary benching of Thompson.
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6.
WBNS: USA Beats Slovakia 6-2, Advances to Olympic Gold Medal Game vs Canada** – Emphasizes perfect penalty kill, shot dominance, and Canada’s simultaneous semifinal win over Finland.
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7.
King5: USA Men’s Hockey Beats Slovakia 6‑2, Secures Olympic Gold‑Medal Spot** – Mirrors WBNS details, adds shot‑by‑shot breakdown and Hellebuyck’s goaltending.
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8.
BBC: Canada‑USA Men’s Ice Hockey Final Sets Up Historic Olympic Showdown** – Stresses historic 10th gold pursuit, Crosby’s injury doubts, and political overtones involving Trump’s potential attendance.
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9.
AP: Canada Overcomes 2‑Goal Deficit to Beat Finland and Reach Olympic Gold‑Medal Game** – Describes Canada’s comeback, Crosby’s absence, and MacKinnon’s power‑play winner.
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10.
AP: U.S. and Canada Advance to Olympic Hockey Semifinals After Overtime Thrillers** – Recaps quarterfinal OT victories for both nations, setting up the possible final.
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WBNS: USA Men’s Hockey Quarterfinals and Olympic Highlights** – Covers U.S. preliminary dominance, NHL return, and broadcast details for the quarterfinals.
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King5: USA Men’s Hockey Quarterfinals and Olympic Highlights** – Similar to WBNS, highlighting prelim wins and NHL participation.
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13.
AP: Canada and USA Set for Quarterfinal Showdowns at Milan 2026 Olympics** – Announces quarterfinal matchups, seeding, and key players such as McDavid and Hellebuyck.
Timeline
1960 – The United States last defeats Canada in an Olympic men’s final, a milestone that underscores the historic weight of the 2026 showdown[1].
1980 – The United States captures its most recent Olympic men’s gold in the “Miracle on Ice” upset of the Soviet Union, a benchmark the 2026 team hopes to repeat[3][12].
2014 – Canada wins its previous Olympic men’s hockey gold and the 2014 Games mark the last appearance of NHL players before a 12‑year hiatus, setting the stage for their 2026 return[1][12].
2025 – A Four Nations match erupts into three fights within the first nine seconds, intensifying the rivalry and fueling U.S. players’ desire for redemption ahead of the 2026 final[1].
Feb 17, 2026 – Quarterfinal matchups are announced, pairing Canada with Czechia and the United States with Sweden, while Finland meets Switzerland and Slovakia faces Germany; Canada enters as top seed with Connor McDavid leading the tournament with nine points[8].
Feb 18, 2026 – In the quarterfinals, the United States edges Sweden 2‑1 in overtime as Quinn Hughes scores the winner and Connor Hellebuyck makes 28 saves, while Canada survives a 4‑3 OT thriller over Czechia thanks to Nick Suzuki’s late tie and Mitch Marner’s overtime goal, keeping a U.S.–Canada final possible[7].
Feb 18, 2026 – Broadcasters confirm the U.S.–Sweden quarterfinal will stream on NBC and Peacock at 3:10 p.m. ET, marking the first Olympic hockey tournament in 12 years to feature active NHL players since 2014[10][13].
Feb 20, 2026 – The United States defeats Slovakia 6‑2 in the semifinals, with Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk scoring, while preserving a flawless 12‑for‑12 penalty‑kill and outshooting the opponent 39‑24[4][9][11].
Feb 20, 2026 – Canada rallies from a 2‑0 deficit to beat Finland 3‑2, clinching the win on a late power‑play goal by Nathan MacKinnon after a controversial high‑stick incident, and advances despite captain Sidney Crosby’s knee injury, with Connor McDavid wearing the “C” and setting an Olympic points record for an NHL player[5][1].
Feb 20, 2026 – Finland Chamber of Commerce chief Juho Romakkaniemi accuses Canada of cheating, claiming MacKinnon “lifted Niko Mikkola’s stick to his own face” and calling the outcome “a shameful day for hockey”[2].
Feb 21, 2026 – Brady Tkachuk warns of “hatred” and the intense rivalry ahead of the gold‑medal clash, recalling the U.S. loss at the 4‑Nations Face‑Off final and pledging redemption as the teams prepare for Sunday’s showdown[2].
Feb 21, 2026 – Analyst Seth Bennett declares the tournament “the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics,” noting the return of NHL talent and the resolved ice‑quality concerns at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Arena[1].
Feb 21, 2026 – Political tension rises as President Donald Trump’s remarks heighten U.S.–Canada pressures, with speculation that his attendance could turn the final into a “political cauldron,” echoing the 2025 Four Nations fight‑filled match[1].
Feb 21, 2026 – The gold‑medal game is scheduled for Sunday at 13:10 GMT (8:10 a.m. ET, 2:10 p.m. Milan time), to be broadcast on NBC in the United States and CBC in Canada, and will serve as the final event before the closing ceremony[1][12].
Feb 22, 2026 – In the Olympic men’s hockey gold‑medal game, the United States and Canada meet, with Canada chasing a historic 10th gold and the U.S. seeking its first men’s title since 1980, marking the first Olympics since 2014 to feature NHL players[1][2].
Dive deeper (11 sub-stories)
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Newsweek: USA vs Canada Olympic Gold Medal Game Marred by Cheating Allegations
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AP: U.S. and Canada Set for Olympic Hockey Gold Showdown Sunday
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King5 (Seattle, WA): U.S. and Canada set to battle for men’s hockey gold at Milan‑Cortina 2026
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AP: U.S. and Canada Advance to Men’s Hockey Final at Milan 2026 Olympics
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AP: U.S. Beats Slovakia 6‑2, Sets Up Gold‑Medal Clash With Canada
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USA Defeats Slovakia 6-2, Secures Spot in Olympic Gold‑Medal Final Against Canada
(2 articles)
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BBC: Canada‑USA Men’s Ice Hockey Final Sets Up Historic Olympic Showdown
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AP: Canada Overcomes 2‑Goal Deficit to Beat Finland and Reach Olympic Gold‑Medal Game
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AP: U.S. and Canada Advance to Olympic Hockey Semifinals After Overtime Thrillers
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U.S. Men’s Hockey Set for Sweden Quarterfinal, NHL Players Return to Olympics
(2 articles)
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AP: Canada and USA Set for Quarterfinal Showdowns at Milan 2026 Olympics