Team USA Advances to Gold Medal Showdown Against Canada After Dominant Win Over Slovakia

The American men’s hockey team delivered a commanding performance against Slovakia, securing a decisive 6-2 victory in the Olympic semifinals on Friday. This triumph paves the way for an exciting gold medal showdown against Canada, scheduled for Sunday in Milan. Notably, there is buzz that President Donald Trump might attend the highly anticipated match.

Following the American women’s thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada to claim Olympic gold, the men’s team now stands on the brink of capturing their first gold since the legendary “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Back then, Team USA overcame the formidable USSR on their path to glory in Lake Placid. This time, they face a new challenge against a Canadian team similarly stacked with top-tier talent. Both squads boast NHL stars with extensive international and Stanley Cup experience, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash.

The American team enters the final with momentum, having made a strong statement in their semifinal win. In contrast, Canada had to rally against Finland to secure their spot in the gold medal game.

During their semifinal match, the Americans quickly established dominance, jumping to a 2-0 lead in the first period. Dylan Larkin opened the scoring with assistance from Zach Werenski and Tage Thompson, followed by Thompson adding a power-play goal with just 41 seconds left in the period.

Thompson’s score was particularly impressive as the Buffalo Sabres winger beat Slovakian goalie Samuel Hlavaj on a blazing one-timer from Jack Eichel. 

Dylan Larkin of United States celebrates his goal with Tage Thompson and Jaccob Slavin

Brady Tkachuk scores to push Team USA’s lead over Slovakia to 6-1 on Friday in Milan

Slovakia’s #33 Stanislav Skorvanek (L) and USA’s #34 Auston Matthews vie for the puck

Team USA would score twice in rapid succession in the second period.

First it was Jack Hughes’ turn, netting an assist from Werenski, before Eichel followed 20 seconds later with a goal assisted by both Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew.

Jack Hughes would add his second goal of the game late in the second to give his proud parents even more to celebrate in the crowd. Hughes’ brother Quinn previosly scored the game winner in overtime against Team Sweden to advance to the semifinals.

American goalie Connor Hellebuyck surrendered two third-period goals to Montreal Canadiens star Juraj Slafkovsky and the San Jose Sharks’ Pavol Regenda, but still made 22 saves on the day. He appears to be in line for another start on Sunday. 

The only blemish, if you can call it that, was Team USA’s third-period shoving match with Slovakia. Erik Cernak was seen punching American instigator Matthew Tkachuk, although refs were able to break up the rare international fight. 

Both Matthew Tkachuk and Cernak were ejected for their part in the fracas.  

American fans react to Friday’s 6-2 win over Slovakia ahead of Sunday’s gold medal game 

Patrik Koch #64 of Team Slovakia reacts after the 6-2 defeat in the Men’s Semifinals

Slovakia’s #81 Erik Cernak (R) throws a punch at USA’s #19 Matthew Tkachuk on Friday 

Dylan Larkin #21 of Team United States shoots the puck against Stanislav Skorvanek

Friday’s victory could result in a surprise international trip for Trump, who is reportedly considering attending Sunday’s gold medal game amid an ongoing trade war with Canada. Italian media has already reported security plans are being made in the case that he does attend the game. 

The Trump White House has faced criticism in Milan, where vice president JD Vance was booed during the opening ceremony. The ongoing Winter Olympics are taking place as Trump is trying to raise tariffs on foreign countries, not to mention his controversial immigration crackdown. 

The Trump administration was represented at Friday’s game by FBI director Kash Patel, who has also been slammed over his use of taxpayer funds for his international flight. 

Patel’s flight to Europe could cost taxpayers as much as $75,000, according to estimates of government flight rates for that type of aircraft, but the Bureau hit back at criticism, insisting: ‘It is not a personal trip.’ 

Spokesperson Ben Williamson went on to explain that Patel is on a business trip ‘that was planned months ago.’ 

FBI director Kash Patel was in the stands for the USA’s hockey semifinal against Slovakia

Canada didn’t have the fast start that Team USA had Friday, but the Olympic favorites came up big when it mattered most.

The comeback began when Sam Reinhart deflected a Cale Maker slap shot in the second period. From there, Shea Theodore tied the game in the third period to set up Nathan MacKinnon’s game winner with 35.2 seconds remaining.

‘There wasn’t really any panic,’ Canadian center Nick Suzuki told reporters after the win. ‘We were going to get our chances eventually.’

Now the two rivals will meet on Sunday, one year after playing in two spectacular games in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Nathan MacKinnon of Canada celebrates with Macklin Celebrini and Sam Reinhart

That event marked the first time in nearly a decade that hockey’s top international talent participated in a single tournament. And the teams did not disappoint, getting in three fights in the opening nine seconds of the first game before Canada secured an epic overtime win over Team USA in the finals.

As for Sunday, Team Canada is still waiting to learn if it will have captain Sidney Crosby, who suffered a lower-body injury earlier in the tournament and missed Friday’s win. 

‘We have 48 hours to decide that,’ Team Canada coach Jon Cooper said. ‘But I will tell you he’s got a better chance of playing in the gold medal game than he had playing in tonight’s game.’ 

The Pittsburgh Penguins legend is a key player in the US-Canada rivalry. The last time the Americans reached the final came in 2010, when Crosby scored a golden goal off a face-off in the final, leaving Team USA with the silver medal.