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As expected, Team Canada was not happy to be on the ice receiving their silver medals in Milan after Jack Hughes’ overtime goal to give Team USA the gold.
Canadian star Nathan MacKinnon made an interesting comment after the game that sparked debate on social media.
“You’re the judge of who was the better team today,” said Team Canada’s assistant captain and Colorado Avalanche star, via the Canadian Press.
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Nathan MacKinnon #29 of Team Canada appears dejected after the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
MacKinnon apparently implied that Canada was the better team despite the result. Sure, they outshot the United States, 42-28, and they certainly had more control of the puck during the three periods in Milan.
It even took some heroics from Team USA goalkeeper Connor Hellebuyck to keep the game tied at one goal apiece, including a miraculous stick save on Devon Toews’ point-blank opportunity in the second period.
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But there were some mistakes from Canada, too, and MacKinnon made a big one with 10:50 left in the third period. Hellebuyck was completely defeated when the puck was handed to MacKinnon, who had an open net to work with. All he had to do was put it between the pipes and Canada would have taken a 2-1 lead.
Instead, his shot hit the short side of the net and Team USA took advantage of a break when one of the world’s best scorers was denied by his own mistake. It’s one of those moments when MacKinnon may be thinking, “What if?” considering how the game ended.
Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Hellebuyck during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, ice hockey final match between Canada and the United States at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Stadium in Milan on February 22, 2026. (Photo Olimpik/NurPhoto)
With both teams tied after three periods, the rules of Olympic overtime are those of the NHL regular season: 3-on-3 sudden death hockey. For Team USA, this format benefited them considering what was happening in the second and third periods, with Canada handling them on both ends of the ice.
But MacKinnon once again made a serious mistake in overtime, as he didn’t seem to anticipate defenseman Zach Weresnki flying at him in the offensive zone after Hughes pushed the puck into the Canada zone.
MacKinnon could have attacked the puck harder, but Werenski took it and threw it to Hughes, who buried it past Jordan Binnington for the golden goal.
Silver medalist Nathan MacKinnon of Team Canada shows dejection during the medal ceremony following the men’s gold medal match between Canada and the United States on Day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
So while statistics and other metrics may say that Team Canada was the best team on the ice, it only matters in key moments. And, of course, the score at the final whistle.
As Team USA celebrates its first Olympic gold medal since the 1980 ice miracle in Lake Placid, Team Canada can only return to their respective cities thinking about what went wrong in the end.
