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The grand finale of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics promises to be a thrilling spectacle as a highly-anticipated showdown unfolds between the U.S. and Canada in the men’s hockey gold medal game. This much-awaited clash is set to bring the curtain down on the 2026 Games just before the closing ceremony on Sunday night.
Taking place in Milan, Italy, this face-off between two fierce rivals marks the triumphant return of NHL players to the Olympic ice after a 12-year hiatus. Both teams, undefeated so far, boast rosters brimming with the world’s top talent. Their recent encounters, notably at the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, rekindled the excitement of best-against-best international hockey, setting the stage for what promises to be an unforgettable match.
Hockey fans in the U.S. can catch all the action live on NBC, with Kenny Albert providing the play-by-play commentary, and Ed Olczyk alongside Brian Boucher offering expert analysis from the arena. North of the border, CBC will broadcast the game for Canadian audiences.
The puck is set to drop at 2:10 p.m. local time in Milan, corresponding to 8:10 a.m. Eastern Time and 5:10 a.m. Pacific, allowing fans across continents to tune in and witness this epic sporting event.
How to watch the game
The game will air on NBC in the U.S., with Kenny Albert doing play by play and Ed Olczyk and Brian Boucher as in-arena analysts. CBC is broadcasting the game in Canada.
What time is the game?
The puck drops at 2:10 p.m. in Milan, 8:10 a.m. Eastern Time and 5:10 a.m. Pacific.
Key players to watch
The weekend arrived with questions about the status of Canada’s injured captain, Sidney Crosby. He did not play in the semifinal win over Finland after leaving the quarterfinal game against Czechia with an apparent right knee injury.
Connor McDavid wore the captain’s “C” in Crosby’s absence. McDavid with 13 points in five games has already set the record for the most by an NHL player in a single Olympics.
The U.S. is led by two sets of brothers, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk and Quinn and Jack Hughes. Quinn and Jack have been the best Americans on the ice in the tournament.
Canada is the favorite
Canada is favored by 1 1/2 goals on BetMGM Sportsbook. Canada has been the favorite since before play began in Milan, with the U.S. not far behind.
The last time the US won gold
While the women’s team has three gold medals since 1998 — including this year’s thriller over rival Canada — the last U.S. men’s team to win it all at the Olympics was the “Miracle on Ice” team in Lake Placid in 1980. The only other is 1960.
The U.S. last reached the final in 2010 in Vancouver, losing to Canada on Crosby’s golden goal in overtime. Canada has won Olympic gold a record nine times, including three in the first five Games with NHL players.
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