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The free bird flies high in Milan.
The United States men’s Olympic hockey team dominated Slovakia from start to finish Friday, winning 6-2 to set up a gold medal game against archrival Canada.
Dylan Larkin opened the scoring early in the match, and Tage Thompson found the back of the net in the final moments of the first to give the Americans a 2-0 lead.
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Jack Hughes (86) of the United States celebrates after scoring his second goal of the game against Slovakia during the second period of a men’s ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
But it was the second period that was dominant. Jack Hughes and Jack Eichel scored 19 seconds apart, and Hughes scored again later to make it 5-0. In the third, Brady Tkachuk added another for good measure.
It will be the first time the Americans have played for gold since 2010, when they lost a heartbreaking overtime game to Canada in Vancouver. Canada, which has won three Olympic gold medals involving NHL players (1998-2014), clinched its spot in the gold medal game after coming back from a 2-0 deficit against Finland earlier Friday.
Jack Eichel (9) of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal against Slovakia during the second period of a men’s ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
AMERICAN SKIER’S QUEST FOR OLYMPIC GOLD COMES TO A CRUSHING END AFTER TERRIFYING CRASH
Looking ahead, the rivalry between the United States and Canada is, to put it bluntly, a rivalry that Canada owns. This will be the eighth time the United States and Canada have played for Olympic gold, and the only time the Americans have won was in 1960. They have also faced off for gold in 1920, 1924, 1932, 1952, 2002 and 2010. In the best-versus-best format, the United States is 5-15-1, and three of those victories have been took place during the 1996 Hockey World Cup.
These two teams already know each other very well, as both teams are largely made up of the same members from last year’s 4 Nations showdown, where three fights took place in the first nine seconds in the countries’ first best-on-best match in nine years.
Tensions between the two teams and fans were at a dizzying high during this tournament, as it was fresh off the heels of President Donald Trump’s comments about the “51st state.” Canada ultimately won the 4 Nations Tournament against the United States in an overtime thriller.
But this is the real big scene, and the Americans are looking not only for revenge but for bragging rights for four years.
Jack Eichel, center, United States, celebrates with Brock Faber (14) and Jaccob Slavin (74) after Eichel scored a goal against Slovakia during the second period of a men’s ice hockey semifinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, February 20, 2026. (Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo)
The gold medal game will take place Sunday — the 46th anniversary of “Miracle on Ice” — at 8:10 a.m. ET.
