Team USA’s Matt Boldy puts Americans on board first

Tensions were high ahead of the Winter Olympics men’s ice hockey game between Team USA and Canada on Sunday and it was the Americans who had the crowd on its feet from the start.

American forward Matt Boldy received the puck at center ice. He slammed the puck forward and was able to split Canadian defensemen Devon Toews and Cale Makar. No Canadian defender could stop him.

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Matt Boldy, center, of the United States, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Boldy pulled the puck away and evaded Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington to score the first goal of the game. It came on Team USA’s first shot. Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes were credited with assists.

The score had the Milan crowd buzzing and the incredible goal sparked a huge reaction on social media.

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The United States had a 1-0 lead after the first period.

Boldy, who plays in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild, is on the Olympic roster for the first time. He was part of Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off and had a goal and two assists in the tournament last year. Canada defeated the Americans in the final of that tournament as the rivalry between the two nations was revitalized.

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Matt Boldy (12) of the United States celebrates with Jaccob Slavin (74) and Brock Faber (14) of the United States after scoring a goal against Canada during the first period of the men’s ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Canada played the final with a few personnel. The team was without Sidney Crosby for the game as he suffered a lower body injury early in the Olympics.