USA Defeats Slovakia, Sets Up Gold‑Medal Hockey Clash With Canada on Sunday
Updated (2 articles)
USA Secures Gold‑Medal Spot After 6‑2 Victory Over Slovakia The United States men’s ice‑hockey team beat Slovakia 6‑2 in the semifinal, advancing to the gold‑medal game on Sunday. It marks the first U.S. men’s final since 2010 and the first chance at a gold medal since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.” Auston Matthews, the U.S. captain, said the upcoming showdown will demand a “full‑team effort.” [1][2]
Canada Clinches Final Berth With 35‑Second‑Left Goal Canada rallied from a deficit to defeat Finland 3‑2, with Nathan MacKinnon scoring the go‑ahead goal with 35 seconds remaining in regulation. The comeback secured Canada’s place opposite the United States in the gold‑medal match. The win highlighted Canada’s resilience after trailing for most of the period. [1][2]
Late‑Period Scuffle Leads to Misconduct Penalties With under two minutes left, Slovakia’s Erik Cernak and U.S. forward Matthew Tkachuk exchanged punches, and Brady Tkachuk also became involved. Officials issued misconduct penalties to Cernak and Brady Tkachuk, underscoring the intensity of the semifinal. The incident did not affect the final score but added a disciplinary note to the game. [1]
U.S. Athletes Capture Additional Golds Across Disciplines Alex Ferreira won men’s freeski halfpipe gold with a 93.75‑point final run, while Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones posted a track‑record 56.92‑second heat in the two‑woman bobsleigh, the first Olympic team of two American mothers. Norway leads the overall medal table with 37 medals; the United States follows with 29, including ten golds. These results broaden the United States’ medal prospects beyond hockey. [1][2]
Sources
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CNN: USA Beats Slovakia, Sets Up Gold‑Medal Hockey Clash With Canada: Summarizes the U.S. 6‑2 semifinal win, Canada’s dramatic comeback, includes freestyle‑ski gold, medal‑table standings, and details the late‑period scuffle, focusing on the overall Games narrative.
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CNN: USA advances to Olympic men’s hockey final, Canada wins dramatic semifinal: Highlights the same semifinal outcomes while adding Switzerland’s lead over Norway in the curling bronze match, the historic U.S. mothers bobsleigh heat, and Hunter Hess’s slip, emphasizing broader event coverage.
Timeline
1980 – The United States wins its last men’s Olympic ice‑hockey gold in the “Miracle on Ice,” a historic benchmark for the 2026 team’s aspirations [1].
2010 – The United States reaches the men’s ice‑hockey final for the first time since 2010, underscoring the rarity of the 2026 opportunity [1].
Feb 20, 2026 – The United States defeats Slovakia 6‑2 in the men’s ice‑hockey semifinal, securing a gold‑medal showdown with Canada and marking its first final since 2010 and first chance at gold since 1980 [1][2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Canada edges Finland 3‑2 with Nathan MacKinnon’s go‑ahead goal 35 seconds from the end, clinching the gold‑medal spot and setting up a classic USA‑Canada final [1][2].
Feb 20, 2026 – A late‑period scuffle sees Slovakia’s Erik Cernak and USA’s Matthew Tkachuk exchange punches, with Brady Tkachuk also involved, leading to misconduct penalties for Cernak and Brady Tkachuk [1].
Feb 20, 2026 – USA captain Auston Matthews tells NBC the upcoming gold‑medal game “will require a full‑team effort,” expressing confidence after the Slovakian win [1].
Feb 20, 2026 – Alex Ferreira captures men’s freeski halfpipe gold with a 93.75 score and the competition’s highest jump; Estonia’s Henry Sildaru takes silver and Canada’s Brendan Mackay bronze [1][2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones become the first two‑woman U.S. bobsleigh team to win a heat, posting a 56.92‑second track‑record run [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Hunter Hess falls to sixth after a hard landing, following earlier criticism from President Donald Trump [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – In the men’s curling bronze match, Switzerland leads Norway 4‑0 in the fifth end, aiming to convert round‑robin dominance into a podium finish [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Norway tops the overall medal table with 37 medals (17 gold); the United States sits second with 29 medals (10 gold), while host Italy is third with 27 medals (9 gold) [1].
Feb 22, 2026 (Sunday) – The United States and Canada are set to meet in the men’s ice‑hockey gold‑medal game, a highly anticipated showdown between the sport’s two powerhouses [1][2].