Team USA wins gold medal as Macklin Celebrini’s Olympic experience ends in heartbreak

Macklin Celebrini’s experience at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games ended in heartbreak.

Jack Hughes scored at the 18:19 mark of 3-on-3 overtime to give the United States a thrilling 2-1 win over Celebrini and Canada in the men’s hockey gold medal game at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

On the winning goal, Hughes, in the defensive zone, chipped the puck past Canadian defenseman Cale Makar at the blue line to start a rush up the ice. Zach Werenski then won the race to the loose puck, fought off a check from Nathan MacKinnon deep in the Canadian zone and found Hughes, who beat Canadian goalie Jordan Binnington with a wrist shot to set off a wild celebration for Team USA.

Celebrini, the standout second-year player for the San Jose Sharks, could only watch from the bench as the Americans won their first gold medal in men’s hockey since the Miracle on Ice team in Lake Placid, N.Y. in 1980.

This, too, was a game for the ages.

The Canadians killed a double-minor penalty for high-sticking to forward Sam Bennett, a four-minute man advantage that was cut short by a high-sticking penalty on Hughes with 3:23 left in the third period.

Celebrini had a couple of tremendous scoring chances during Canada’s power play, including one right beside the American net, and had a team-leading six shots on goal through three periods. But he was unable to beat U.S. goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who had 40 saves through regulation time.

Celebrini had two shots on goal during a 5-on-3 power play for Canada trailing by a goal midway through the second period as Jake Guentzel and Charlie McAvoy both took minor penalties. But the Americans were able to kill both penalties and hold onto their lead.

The Canadians broke through at the 18:16 mark of the second period. After a faceoff win in the Americans’ zone, Makar took a pass from defense partner Devon Toews, skated toward the net, and beat Hellebuyck to the far side for his second goal of the tournament.

Celebrini had a breakaway chance with just under 15 minutes left in the third period, but his low shot at the end of a shift was stopped by Hellebuyck. Shortly afterward, Celebrini’s linemate at times during the tournament, MacKinnon, missed a wide-open net on a shot from close range.

Matt Boldy opened the scoring for the Americans at the 6:00 mark of the first period.

The Minnesota Wild forward took a pass from San Ramon-born center Auston Matthews at his blue line, carried the puck into the neutral zone, and then chipped it ahead to himself in the offensive zone between Canadian defensemen Makar and Toews. In alone, Boldy then slid a backhand shot past goalie Jordan Binnington for his second goal of the tournament.

Another game between the Americans and Canadians had been eagerly anticipated since the two countries met in the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off on Feb. 20, 2025. The game went to overtime before Connor McDavid scored to give Canada a 3-2 win. The Americans reversed that sudden-death fortune Sunday.

Celebrini wasn’t on Canada’s roster for that event, but he made a huge impact for his home country in the first Olympic Games with NHL players since 2014.

Celebrini, the youngest NHL player in the Olympics, entered Sunday as the tournament’s second-leading scorer with 10 points, as his five goals in five games led all skaters.

Celebrini had the second assist on MacKinnon’s go-ahead goal with 35.2 seconds left in the third period, propelling Canada to a 3-2 win over Finland. Celebrini, remarkably, finished with 25:53 in ice time, more than any other Canadian player, including Makar (25:14) and McDavid (25:20).