With the victory, Team USA closes the tournament undefeated with a record of 4-2-0-0 (W-OTW-OTL-L). The U.S. earned its third all-time gold medal (1980, 1960) at the Olympic Winter Games and its first in 46 years.

“This game, in a lot of ways, was an inspiration to our country,” said Mike Sullivan, head coach of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team. “These are all terrific players, and a team in the true sense of the word. We were loaded with personality up and down the lineup.”

Matt Boldy (Millis, Mass./Minnesota Wild) opened the scoring 6:00 into the contest when he flipped the puck over the outstretched sticks of a pair of Canadian defenders while entering the offensive zone to create a one-on-one with Canadian netminder Jordan Binnington and capitalized with a backhand finish. Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz./Toronto Maple Leafs) and Quinn Hughes (Canton, Mich./Minnesota Wild) recorded helpers on the play.

GAME PHOTOS

Midway through the middle stanza, Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./Colorado Avalanche) created a breakaway opportunity that was stopped by Binnington. Minutes later, U.S. netminder Connor Hellebuyck (Commerce, Mich./Winnipeg Jets) stonewalled Canada’s Connor McDavid on a one-on-one chance to maintain the one-goal lead.

Canada went on an extended five-on-three power play with 9:55 into the second, but Hellebuyck made a series of saves to hold the one-goal lead.

With 1:44 left in the period, Cale Makar scored on a wrist shot from the left circle off a faceoff to level the score for Canada.

In the opening minutes of the final frame, Hellebuyck made an acrobatic save to deny Devon Toews from point-blank range with the paddle of his stick across the goal line to keep the game tied. Each team was held scoreless in the third, sending the game to overtime.

At the 1:41 mark of the extra frame, Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich./Columbus Blue Jackets) carried the puck into the offensive zone and sent a cross-ice pass to Jack Hughes in the slot, who fired a shot five-hole net for the game-winning tally.

Hellebuyck stopped 41 shots in goal for the U.S.

NOTES: Team USA was outshot by Canada, 42-28 … The U.S. went 0-2 on the power play while Canada went 0-2 … Quinn Hughes was named the tournament’s Best Defender and Connor Hellebuyck was named the tournament’s Best Goaltender