Canada‑USA Men’s Hockey Gold Medal Clash Set for Feb. 22 Amid Cheating Claim and Injury Concerns
Updated (33 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
Game Time and Rivalry Heightens Olympic Stakes The United States and Canada will meet for the men’s ice‑hockey gold medal on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, with the puck dropping at 8:10 a.m. ET (2:10 p.m. Milan time) [1][2][3]. Both nations view the matchup as the pinnacle of a rivalry that has produced “hatred” and “redemption” talk from U.S. forward Brady Tkachuk and a year‑long dream from Canada’s Dylan Larkin [1][2]. The game will close the Milan‑Cortina Olympics before the closing ceremony [3][10].
Undefeated Paths and Dominant Statistics Define Both Sides The United States entered the final unbeaten, outscoring opponents 24‑8 and outshooting them 201‑124, while Canada posted a 27‑8 goal differential and a 202‑106 shooting edge [2]. Each squad survived nail‑biting quarter‑finals—Canada needed overtime to beat Czechia and survived Finland in the semis, the U.S. rallied from a late Sweden lead to win in overtime [2][4]. Their unbeaten runs underscore why they are the tournament’s top seeds and why betting markets list Canada as a 1½‑goal favorite [3][10].
Semifinal Drama Fuels Final Narrative, Including Cheating Allegation Canada erased a 2‑0 deficit against Finland, scoring three unanswered goals—including Nathan MacKinnon’s power‑play winner with 35 seconds left—to win 3‑2 [12][7][10]. Finland Chamber chief Juho Romakkaniemi accused the Canadians of “cheating,” alleging MacKinnon deliberately lifted opponent Niko Mikkola’s stick to his own face before the goal [1]. Meanwhile, the United States dispatched Slovakia 6‑2, with Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk scoring, and maintained a flawless 12‑for‑12 penalty‑kill record [8][9][6].
Injuries, Broadcast Plans and Historical Stakes Shape the Showdown Captain Sidney Crosby remains doubtful after a right‑knee injury, prompting Connor McDavid to wear the “C” for Canada [3][12]. The U.S. relies on the Tkachuk brothers, the Hughes brothers, and Auston Matthews as a “full‑team effort” [5][6]. NBC (U.S.) and CBC (Canada) will televise the game, with commentary crews announced by King 5 [3]. Canada seeks its 10th men’s gold, while the United States aims for its first since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” [10][3].
Sources
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1.
Newsweek: USA vs Canada Olympic Gold Medal Game Marred by Cheating Allegations – Highlights Tkachuk’s rivalry comments, Canada’s comeback win, MacKinnon high‑stick controversy, and the Feb. 22 game time .
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2.
AP: U.S. and Canada Set for Olympic Hockey Gold Showdown Sunday – Details Larkin’s dream, teams’ undefeated records, quarter‑final dramas, and Crosby’s injury uncertainty .
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3.
King5 (Seattle, WA): U.S. and Canada set to battle for men’s hockey gold at Milan‑Cortina 2026 – Notes NHL return, broadcast schedule, Crosby’s sidelining, Tkachuk/Hughes brothers, and betting odds .
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4.
AP: U.S. and Canada Advance to Men’s Hockey Final at Milan 2026 Olympics – Reports semifinal victories, key U.S. scorers, MacKinnon’s winner, and line‑person intervention .
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5.
CNN: USA Advances to Gold‑Medal Hockey Showdown as Alex Ferreira Wins Freeski Gold – Covers U.S. 6‑2 win, Ferreira’s freeski gold, women’s curling schedule, and IOC political note .
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6.
AP: U.S. Beats Slovakia 6‑2, Sets Up Gold‑Medal Clash With Canada – Emphasizes Werenski’s comments, player excitement, Thompson’s benching, and Hellebuyck’s goaltending .
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7.
CNN: USA advances to Olympic men’s hockey final, Canada wins dramatic semifinal – Summarizes U.S. win, Canada’s MacKinnon goal, and other sport results .
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8.
WBNS (Columbus, OH): USA Beats Slovakia 6-2, Advances to Olympic Gold Medal Game vs Canada – Highlights perfect penalty kill, shot dominance, and Canada’s semifinal win .
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9.
King5 (Seattle, WA): USA Men’s Hockey Beats Slovakia 6‑2, Secures Olympic Gold‑Medal Spot – Details scoring breakdown, penalty‑kill record, and Canada’s semifinal .
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10.
BBC: Canada‑USA Men’s Ice Hockey Final Sets Up Historic Olympic Showdown – Provides venue, historic gold chase, Crosby’s injury, star line‑ups, and political overtones .
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11.
AP: Canada’s Top Women’s Curling Team Upset by Sweden, Men Await Gold Chance – Mentions Canadian women’s loss, men’s gold game, and controversy over double‑touch violations .
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12.
AP: Canada Overcomes 2‑Goal Deficit to Beat Finland and Reach Olympic Gold‑Medal Game – Describes Canada’s comeback, Crosby’s absence, shot dominance, and MacKinnon’s goal .
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AP: U.S. Wins Third Olympic Gold in Women’s Hockey, Overtime Goal Beats Canada – Recaps women’s gold, Keller’s OT winner, and Knight’s heroics .
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AP: Knight’s final Olympic night sees Edwards tip‑off a gold‑winning moment – Focuses on Knight’s retirement, Edwards’ assist, and personal engagement news .
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CNN: Team USA Stages Overtime Comeback to Defeat Canada for Olympic Gold – Details women’s OT win, Knight’s record, Keller’s goal, and tournament dominance .
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16.
WBNS (Columbus, OH): USA wins women’s hockey gold 2‑1 in overtime over Canada – Highlights OT victory, historic rivalry count, and Knight’s record .
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King5 (Seattle, WA): USA clinches women’s hockey gold 2‑1 in overtime over Canada – Mirrors WBNS coverage with emphasis on tournament shutout streak .
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BBC: U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Wins Gold Over Canada in Overtime – Provides OT win details, shutout streak, and broader Olympic schedule .
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AP: U.S. Wins Overtime 2‑1 Over Canada for Third Olympic Women’s Hockey Gold – Notes Keller’s goal, Knight’s record, and debut of Laila Edwards .
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): Hilary Knight Sets U.S. Women’s Hockey Olympic Goal Record – Highlights Knight’s goal record, points tie, and team dominance .
Timeline
1998 – Women’s ice‑hockey makes its Olympic debut in Nagano, and the United States captures the inaugural gold medal, establishing the long‑standing North‑American rivalry that will define future finals [17].
1980 – The U.S. men’s team wins its last Olympic gold in the “Miracle on Ice,” a benchmark the 2026 squad hopes to emulate after a 46‑year drought [7].
2014 – The Winter Games in Sochi host the final Olympic tournament with NHL players before a 12‑year hiatus, making the 2026 return of NHL talent a historic comeback [1].
2025 – A Four Nations match erupts into three fights in the first nine seconds, heightening political and on‑ice tensions that spill into the 2026 Games [1].
Feb 16, 2026 – The United States and Canada confirm they will meet in the women’s gold‑medal game, the seventh such showdown since 1998, with U.S. captain Hilary Knight and Canadian captain Marie‑Philip Poulin both eyeing their final Olympic appearances [30].
Feb 17, 2026 – Quarter‑final pairings are announced: Canada faces Czechia, the United States takes on Sweden, Finland meets Switzerland, and Slovakia battles Germany, setting the knockout path for both nations [25].
Feb 18, 2026 – The men’s quarterfinals feature the United States versus Sweden, marking the first Olympic tournament in 12 years to include active NHL players and raising the competition’s profile [24][28].
Feb 18, 2026 – In the women’s quarterfinals, the United States edges Sweden 2‑1 in overtime on Quinn Hughes’ winner, while Canada survives a 4‑3 OT thriller over Czechia despite Sidney Crosby’s earlier knee injury [22].
Feb 18, 2026 – U.S. forward Hilary Knight says she hopes to cap her career with a gold‑medal win over Canada, describing the rivalry as “one of the most beautiful rivalries in sport” [23].
Feb 18, 2026 – Dylan Larkin reveals he has imagined a U.S.–Canada gold clash for a year, recalling the 4 Nations Face‑Off loss that fuels his motivation [29].
Feb 19, 2026 – The women’s gold‑medal game sees Hilary Knight tip a Laila Edwards shot to tie the match with 2:04 left, giving her the all‑time U.S. Olympic goal record, before Megan Keller scores the overtime winner at 4:07, delivering a 2‑1 victory and the United States’ third women’s gold [18][19][20][26].
Feb 19, 2026 – Knight declares the win “incredible” and announces her retirement, while Edwards credits Knight’s deflection for the crucial goal, highlighting the passing of the torch to the next generation [15].
Feb 20, 2026 – In the men’s semifinals, Canada rallies from a 2‑0 deficit to beat Finland 3‑2 on Nathan MacKinnon’s 35‑second‑left power‑play goal, despite Sidney Crosby’s continued injury absence, and Connor McDavid sets an Olympic points record for an NHL player [13][6].
Feb 20, 2026 – The United States defeats Slovakia 6‑2, with goals from Dylan Larkin, Jack Hughes (twice), Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk; Zach Werenski notes the win “gives us the matchup everyone wanted” as the team turns its focus to Canada [9][10][11][12].
Feb 21, 2026 – The men’s gold‑medal showdown is set for Sunday at the unfinished Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, pitting the two top‑seeded North‑American powers in the first Olympic final with NHL players since 2014 [1][7][8].
Feb 21, 2026 – Commentator Seth Bennett calls the tournament “the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics,” while NBC announces the game will start at 2:10 p.m. Milan time (8:10 a.m. ET) with Kenny Albert, Ed Olczyk and Brian Boucher on the call [7].
Feb 21, 2026 – IOC President Kirsty Coventry says the IOC will review an IOC member’s attendance at President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” meeting, underscoring the political cauldron surrounding the final [3].
Feb 22, 2026 (future) – The men’s gold‑medal game concludes the Olympic hockey program, after which the closing ceremony of the Milan‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games proceeds [1].
Dive deeper (5 sub-stories)
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External resources (4 links)
- https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU5rM4XDORz/ (cited 1 times)
- https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/where-to-watch-olympic-games-live (cited 6 times)
- https://imp.i305175.net/c/5565082/3778271/11640?subId1=USA%20vs.%20Canada%20%28Women%27s%20Gold%29&sharedid=Newsweek%20Sports (cited 3 times)
- https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/results/iho/w/team6-------------/fnl-/000100--/team-lineups (cited 1 times)