The Gold Medal Game is now set for the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Team USA will play Team Canada on Sunday after making easy work of Slovakia in the semifinals, 6-2, on Friday.
Team USA scored early and often against the underdog Slovaks, going up 5-0 before taking their foot off the gas in the third period. The Americans got goals from Dylan Larkin, Tage Thompson, Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, and Brady Tkachuk in their victory.
Slovakia will now face Finland, which lost 3-2 to Canada in its own semifinal matchup, in the bronze medal game on Saturday. The Slovaks got goals from Juraj Slafkovsky and Pavol Regenda in the loss, and 33 combined saves from goaltenders Samuel Hlavaj and Stanislav Skorvanek.
Larkin opened the game’s scoring just 4:19 into the first period, and Thompson doubled the team’s lead in the final minute of the opening frame with a power-play one-timer. However, Thompson was injured late in the second period and did not return for the third period for precautionary reasons.
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, Team USA head coach Mike Sullivan announced postgame that he expects the Buffalo Sabres star forward to be able to dress against the Canadians. Thompson, who had two points (1g, 1a) on Friday, has recorded four points (3g, 1a) in five games at the tournament.
Connor Hellebuyck made another start for the Americans and made 22 saves in the win. In four games, Hellebuyck is 4-0 with a 1.23 goals-against average and a .947 save percentage.
Washington Capitals defenseman Martin Fehervary played 19:56 of ice time against the Americans, recording two assists, one shot on goal, and four penalty minutes.
The Americans and Canadians will face off for gold for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Team USA has never beaten Canada in a final, having won its lone prior gold medals in men’s hockey at the 1960 and 1980 Olympics before knockout rounds were used to determine medal winners.
