As a red flare flashed in the background and players draped in white and blue spilled onto the ice, Nathan MacKinnon could do little more than keel over his stick. For 71 minutes, the Avalanche star and his Canadian teammates were the dominant force in their gold medal game clash against the United States. They tallied more than 41 shots on goal in the fixture, using all their might to breach Connor Hellebuyck's cage. It didn't matter, though. The American star was equal to their threats, keeping the score level at one apiece. With 1:40 gone in overtime, MacKinnon Markelle Fultz Jersey saw the puck dwindle out of his grasp following an intervention by Zach Werenski. Seconds later, the Americans danced on the ice, the beneficiaries of Jack Hughes' golden goal. Canada was left to rue its mi sed chances as silver medals draped over its players' necks. With that, here's a look at how the Canadians' miscues proved costly in their defeat to the United States. MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: | | How Canada lost to USA in gold medal game Canada outshot Team USA 42-28 acro s three periods and overtime. Many of those efforts came from menacing positions. There were breakaways -- Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini each evaded detection to get clean strikes off in front of Hellebuyck's residence. CONNOR HELLEBUYCK COMES UP HUGE TO DENY MCDAVID. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) HELLEBUYCK STANDS TALL AGAIN TO KEEP IT TIED. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) There were deflections, too. Tom Wilson lifted the puck beyond Hellebuyck's grasp at the start of the third period, only to be turned away by defenseman Charlie McAvoy. CHARLIE MCAVOY TO THE RESCUE. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) The glory largely belonged to Hellebuyck, though. The reigning Hart Trophy winner was at his best as the action crescendoed in front of him. MORE: He also had a paddle save on Devon Toews in the waning moments of the third period, stretching wide to deny the Avalanche defender of an open goal. THAT WAS ONE HELLE-BUYCK OF A STOP. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) The stop evoked images of Braden Holtby's acrobatic sprawl against the Golden Knights in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. On the Canadian end of the ice, however, the moment reiterated just how fleeting Canada's hegemony was. Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington sent most of the U.S.'s shot attempts wayward, even stretching to corral a lively effort in overtime. But he wasn't Hellebuyck, at least not on Sunday morning. There was little he could do to get in front of Hughes' rifled attempt in overtime. His teammates, however, were left weary, unsure just how they failed to penetrate the opposite sentry's crease more than once in 42 efforts. MORE: Shaquille O'Neal Jersey
As a red flare flashed in the background and players draped in white and blue spilled onto the ice, Nathan MacKinnon could do little more than keel over his stick. For 71 minutes, the Avalanche star and his Canadian teammates were the dominant force in their gold medal game clash against the United States. They tallied more than 41 shots on goal in the fixture, using all their might to breach Connor Hellebuyck's cage. It didn't matter, though. The American star was equal to their threats, keeping the score level at one apiece. With 1:40 gone in overtime, MacKinnon Markelle Fultz Jersey saw the puck dwindle out of his grasp following an intervention by Zach Werenski. Seconds later, the Americans danced on the ice, the beneficiaries of Jack Hughes' golden goal. Canada was left to rue its mi sed chances as silver medals draped over its players' necks. With that, here's a look at how the Canadians' miscues proved costly in their defeat to the United States. MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: | | How Canada lost to USA in gold medal game Canada outshot Team USA 42-28 acro s three periods and overtime. Many of those efforts came from menacing positions. There were breakaways -- Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini each evaded detection to get clean strikes off in front of Hellebuyck's residence. CONNOR HELLEBUYCK COMES UP HUGE TO DENY MCDAVID. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) HELLEBUYCK STANDS TALL AGAIN TO KEEP IT TIED. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) There were deflections, too. Tom Wilson lifted the puck beyond Hellebuyck's grasp at the start of the third period, only to be turned away by defenseman Charlie McAvoy. CHARLIE MCAVOY TO THE RESCUE. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) The glory largely belonged to Hellebuyck, though. The reigning Hart Trophy winner was at his best as the action crescendoed in front of him. MORE: He also had a paddle save on Devon Toews in the waning moments of the third period, stretching wide to deny the Avalanche defender of an open goal. THAT WAS ONE HELLE-BUYCK OF A STOP. NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) The stop evoked images of Braden Holtby's acrobatic sprawl against the Golden Knights in the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals. On the Canadian end of the ice, however, the moment reiterated just how fleeting Canada's hegemony was. Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington sent most of the U.S.'s shot attempts wayward, even stretching to corral a lively effort in overtime. But he wasn't Hellebuyck, at least not on Sunday morning. There was little he could do to get in front of Hughes' rifled attempt in overtime. His teammates, however, were left weary, unsure just how they failed to penetrate the opposite sentry's crease more than once in 42 efforts. MORE: Shaquille O'Neal Jersey