* Jack Hughes scored the overtime winner to lift Team USA to a historic Olympic gold medal – the country’s third ever and first since completing the “Miracle on Ice” 46 years ago.
* Team USA honored their late teammate, Johnny Gaudreau, during each step leading to their gold medal win at Milano Cortina 2026 – they had Gaudreau’s jersey in the dressing room at each game and kept him a part of the gold medal celebrations by skating around with his jersey and including two of his children in their gold medal photo at center ice.
* Oilers captain Connor McDavid (Team Canada) set a single-tournament Olympic record for points by an NHL player and was named Milano Cortina 2026 tournament MVP. McDavid was one of a number of NHLers who posted stand-out performances at the Games.
* The 2025-26 regular season resumes in three days with an eight-game Wednesday.
TEAM USA CELEBRATES “MIRACLE ON ICE” ANNIVERSARY WITH GOLD MEDAL IN MILAN
Team Canada entered Sunday with a 15-game win streak in Winter Olympics featuring NHL players and gold medals in each of the past two but the combination of Devils forward Jack Hughes (1-0—1) and Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (41 saves) lifted Team USA past their longstanding international hockey rival in overtime and to the country’s third Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey – claiming the prize exactly 46 years to the day of the country’s “Miracle on Ice” victory against the Soviet Union at Lake Placid, N.Y., which they followed up two days later with a win over Finland to secure the gold medal.
* Hellebuyck (.956 SV%), who helped Team USA defeat Team Canada in any knockout game during the Winter Olympics with NHL players for the first time and became the eighth goaltender with a single-tournament save percentage of .950 or higher, is the second reigning Hart Trophy and Vezina Trophy winner to stifle the country en route to a gold medal after Dominik Hasek (24 saves) outdueled Patrick Roy and Team Canada in a shootout during the 1998 semifinals in Nagano, Japan.
* Hellebuyck, the last line of defense during his team’s gold medal win after Team Canada outshot Team USA 42-28, produced a performance similar to that of Jim Craig during the “Miracle on Ice” after the Americans were outshot 39-16 in that contest 46 years ago. His 41-save outing included moments like turning aside Oilers captain and 2025-26 Art Ross Trophy leader Connor McDavid and tournament goal-scoring leader and Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini on separate breakaways, helping his country withstand a 5-on-3 penalty kill for 1:28 and keeping the contest tied at one in the third period with a paddle save on Devon Toews in the crease.
* Hughes, the second American player with multiple game-winning goals in a single Olympic Games with NHL players (also Zach Parise: 2 in 2010), capped a tournament that featured five overtime games, the second most in a single Olympics involving NHL players, behind 2010 (6), and joined Sidney Crosby as the second player to score an overtime goal in that scenario. DYK? 233 NHL regular-season games have required overtime in 2025-26 – the most at this stage of a season (908 GP).
* Gold medals won by NHL team: three for the Wild; two for the Bruins, Rangers, Senators, Golden Knights and Jets; as well as one each for the Ducks, Sabres, Hurricanes, Avalanche, Blue Jackets, Stars, Red Wings, Panthers, Devils, Lightning, Maple Leafs and Mammoth.
* Fans can commemorate Team USA’s victory with 2026 men’s and women’s gold medal apparel, available for purchase at Shop.NHL.com – the official online store of the NHL.
TEAM USA HONORS GAUDREAU IN GOLD MEDAL CELEBRATION
Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk skated around carrying Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey, their late Team USA teammate. Johnny’s wife, Meredith, and his parents, Guy and Jane, were all in attendance for the victory, as well as his children – two of which, Noa Harper and Johnny Jr. – joined Team USA at center ice for their gold medal photo. Johnny Jr., is celebrating his second birthday today.
* Gaudreau represented his country on the world stage seven times, including at several World Championships and the 2013 World Junior Championship, where he won a gold medal and finished the tournament with the most goals.
-22024319.png)
LOOKING BACK ON MORE NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FROM MILANO CORTINA 2026
* Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes (Team USA) collected his seventh assist of Milano Cortina 2026 in the gold medal game. He finished with the most assists by an American in a single Olympic tournament with NHL players. Hughes’ eight points also tied Erik Karlsson (4-4—8 in 2014 w/ SWE) and Brian Rafalski (4-4—8 in 2010 w/ USA) for the most points by a defenseman in a single Olympic Games with NHL players.
* Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond (Team Sweden) concluded the tournament second in assists (8) and third in points (9), while skating in just five games. Raymond established a Team Sweden mark for most assists in a single Olympic Games involving NHL players (previously Peter Forsberg: 6 in 2006). Raymond also tied Mats Sundin (2002) for the second-most points by a Swede in that scenario, behind Daniel Alfredsson (10 in 2006).
* Blues forward Dalibor Dvorsky (Team Slovakia) had the most points in an Olympics by an NHL rookie after tallying 3-3—6 (6 GP). He finished the tournament tied with Evgeni Malkin (6 in 2006) for the second-most points by a player age 20 or younger in a Games involving NHL players, behind Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini (5-5—10).
* Celebrini (Team Canada) not only topped the aforementioned category, but his 10 points finished as the second most in the tournament and the most by a teenager in an Olympics featuring NHL players. The 19-year-old also led the tournament in goals, which tied the most by a Canadian in a single Games with NHLers (also Jarome Iginla: 5 in 2010).
* Oilers captain Connor McDavid (Team Canada) set a single-tournament Olympic record for assists and points by an NHL player (2-11—13 in 6 GP). With just one Games under his belt, McDavid tied Joe Sakic (6-7—13 in 16 GP) for the third-most career points by a Canadian during the Olympics with NHL players behind Sidney Crosby (6-9—15 in 17 GP) and Iginla (10-4—14 in 19 GP).
FINAL TALLY: NHL PLAYERS AT THE 2026 OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
A few final tallies from an Olympic tournament that concluded with an all-NHL and all-North American gold medal game:
* NHL players accounted for nearly half of the representation across the 12 countries (147 of 300 players).
* NHL players scored 74% of goals (138 of 187) and collected 76% of points (389 of 514) across the 30-game event.
* NHL players made up the entirety of the top 23 in points and 23 of the top 24 in goals.
* NHL goaltenders led the tournament in wins, goals-against average and save percentage.
* All 32 NHL teams were represented in the semifinals, with 31 set to welcome an Olympic medal winner back this week – including 18 with a gold around their neck.
QUICK CLICKS
* Connor McDavid, Connor Hellebuyck, Quinn Hughes lead Olympic all-star team
* Johnny Gaudreau’s kids join Team USA on ice after 2026 Olympics
* Team USA can usher in new era of hockey in Olympic gold medal game, Tony Granato says
* Trade Buzz: Blake Coleman activated from IR, ‘I’m a Flame until I’m told I’m not’
* NHL Status Report: Pavel Zacha practices in regular jersey, ‘good to go’ for Bruins
THE PLAYOFF PUSH: NOW THEY’RE CHASING SILVER
After two more days without NHL action, the regular season will resume Wednesday with an eight-game slate. A selection of key games to watch during the first week back of NHL action, as all 32 clubs welcome back an Olympian and start chasing silver once again.
Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Maple Leafs at Lightning
Why to Watch: Two-time reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov has a 10-game point streak and sits one back of 700 career assists as he and the Atlantic Division-leading Lightning look to extend their five-game winning streak – and win for the 20th time in their past 22 games – when they host Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs, winners of three in a row.
Wednesday, Feb. 25 – Golden Knights at Kings
Why to Watch: The Pacific Division-leading Golden Knights resume play with Olympic gold medal winners Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin set to face off against the new-look Kings, with Artemi Panarin set to make his team debut and captain Anze Kopitar continuing his pursuit of the franchise scoring record.
Thursday, Feb. 26 – Oilers at Kings
Why to Watch: After four straight years of First Round matchups (all won by EDM), the Oilers and Kings both close out a back-from-the-break-back-to-back to round out an ESPN doubleheader. NHL and Olympic scoring leader Connor McDavid and the Oilers hold a four-point edge over Drew Doughty and the Kings in the Pacific Division standings.
Thursday, Feb. 26 – Wild at Avalanche
Why to Watch: In a contest that features nine medal winners (USA: 4, CAN: 3 & FIN: 2), the Wild sit within five points of the Avalanche for the No. 1 seed in the NHL, Western Conference and Central Division standings. The five-point advantage Colorado has over Minnesota (as well as CAR & TBL in the overall standings) is the closest any team has been to the Avalanche since the holiday break (DAL was 5 points back of COL on Dec. 23).
Saturday, Feb. 28 – ABC Hockey Saturday Doubleheader
Why to Watch: Four Eastern Conference teams that missed the playoffs last year will continue their push back into the postseason, with the Penguins (at NYR) and Bruins (at PHI) both returning from the break inside the bracket. Gold medalist Charlie McAvoy carried a seven-game point streak into the Olympic break – should he collect a point in Boston’s first game back (Feb. 26), McAvoy will have the opportunity to establish the longest run by a Bruins defenseman since Ray Bourque (13 GP in 1992-93) when his club takes center stage on ABC.
Saturday, Feb. 28 – Hockey Night in Canada
Why to Watch: A pair of First Round rematches from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs will be the focal point of Hockey Night in Canada return, with the “Battle of Ontario” contesting one of its three remaining regular-season matchups plus the Capitals and Canadiens clashing for their third and final meeting of 2025-26. Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk won gold together but will return to their NHL clubs who are currently tied in the standings.
Saturday, Feb. 28 – Oilers at Sharks
Why to Watch: Team Canada teammates, Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, return to their respective clubs when the Oilers and Sharks meet in a Pacific Division clash – Edmonton and San Jose are separated by six points. In Milan, McDavid and Celebrini became the second set of teammates to each record a double-digit point total in the same Olympic tournament with NHL players, following Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu (2006 & 1998).
Sunday, March 1 – Golden Knights at Penguins
Why to Watch: Jack Eichel and the Golden Knights travel to Pittsburgh to clash with Sidney Crosby and the Penguins as each club occupies a top-three position in their respective division. Eichel, and Team USA/Vegas teammate Noah Hanifin, have their sights on joining Ken Morrow as the second and third American players to win an Olympic gold medal and Stanley Cup in the same season.
Sunday, March 1 – Panthers at Islanders
Why to Watch: The two-time reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers return from the break with seven Olympic medalists but sit eight points back of a playoff spot. Islanders rookie Matthew Schaefer continues his pursuit of bringing his club back into the postseason, while Matthew Tkachuk returns to NHL action after becoming the ninth player to win an Olympic gold in a season after winning the Stanley Cup. He’s the first since a trio of Blackhawks skaters: Duncan Keith, Patrick Sharp and Jonathan Toews (2014 Olympic gold & 2013 Stanley Cup).
