Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Jack Hughes Laughs Off Lost Teeth, Nets Overtime Winner for Team USA

It took 46 years, but the United States is back on top of Olympic men’s ice hockey.

Team USA defeated Canada 2–1 in overtime to win gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games on Sunday, February 22. The victory marks America’s first Olympic title in men’s hockey since the historic 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”

Golden Goal in Overtime

The hero was Jack Hughes, star forward for the New Jersey Devils. He buried the game-winning goal just 1:41 into 3-on-3 overtime to seal the championship.

After the game, Hughes appeared in the mixed zone missing two teeth — the result of a high stick from Canadian forward Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers.

“I looked down and saw my teeth on the ice,” Hughes joked. “Here we go again.”

Despite the damage, he stayed in the game and delivered the decisive moment. Smiling through the gap, he added that he was lucky to be American — “We’ve got great dentists.”

Built Different

USA head coach Mike Sullivan praised both Hughes and the team’s mindset.

“This roster has personality,” Sullivan said. “There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers in life. We’ve got a lot of whiskey drinkers.”

Hughes proved that toughness throughout the tournament. He scored four goals and added three assists in six games. Several of those goals came in high-pressure situations, including the final.

Whatever It Takes

The overtime period demanded defense as much as offense. Hughes described a split-second decision before the winning play.

“My first thought was to close the gap,” he said. “Then I thought he’d skate right past me. So I stayed patient.”

That selfless, gritty approach defined the U.S. run. Forward Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators had emphasized that mentality earlier in the tournament: do whatever it takes to win.

The golden goal was assisted by Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets.

Hellebuyck Anchors the Americans

Hellebuyck was outstanding in the final. The three-time Vezina Trophy winner stopped 41 shots and was later named Best Goalkeeper of the tournament.

He joined defenseman Quinn Hughes — Jack’s older brother — on both the Tournament Directorate Three Best Players list and the Media All-Star Team.

Quinn had already delivered his own overtime winner against Sweden in the semifinals. The Hughes family celebration didn’t stop there. Their mother, Ellen Hughes, watched both sons capture gold just days after seeing her women’s program players win Olympic gold as well.

For the United States, it was a championship built on resilience, defense, and timely scoring. For Jack Hughes, it was a golden moment — missing teeth and all.

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