RSS Devils Team Notes

[New Jersey Devils]

2026 Olympics Team USA Game Preview and Final Olympic Gamethread: USA vs. Canada

Feb 20, 2026; Milan, Italy; Jack Hughes (86) of the United States celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period against Slovakia in a men's ice hockey semifinal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Matchup: Team USA vs. Team Canada (FINAL)

The Time: 8:10 AM EST (local time 14:10)

The Broadcasts: TV — Peacock, NBC

Bronze Medal Game​

Well, it wasn’t to be for our boy Simon Nemec as the Slovakia cinderella-ish run came to a close against Finland 5-1 in the Bronze medal game on Saturday. He has really shown out in this tournament, regularly logging 22-25 minutes, and in the semis against the US he had more minutes than Quinn Hughes. Further, he was only -1 in a very lopsided game. With the Devils season where it its, I see no reason not to unleash this kid, give him massive minutes and the keys to PP1. He is a bit of an odd case in that he absolutely thrives in a big role, and is a mess in a smaller, sheltered role. Nemec was the ONLY defenseman in the top 20 of all players in scoring chance creation tracking being done by Dimitri Filipovic and JFresh.

For Gold​

Anyway, here we are – the game everyone projected happening is happening. It wasn’t without speed bumps along the way for either team as Canada was taken to OT by Czechia and barely squeaked by Finland, while the US were taken to OT by Sweden in the quarter finals. Team USA arguably had an easier semi-final game against upstart Slovakia, but Nemo, Tuna and the Slovaks earned the right to be there and you have to beat the teams in front of you (something the Devils could take notes on).

A win for the US team would present a seismic shift in the hockey universe. And make no mistake this has been a long time coming as we have been nipping at Canada’s heels for 30 years, but the historical record is pretty lopsided. While the US and Canada have been playing against each other for over a century, they have played 19 times at the Olympics, 14 times in the World Cup of Hockey and 2 times in last year’s appetizer, The 4 Nations Face-Off. The last time the US beat them for Gold was in 1960, while Canada has taken gold vs the US in Salt Lake (2002), Vancouver (2010) and Canada also won Gold in Sochi (2014) the last time pros played. Overall, Canada is 12-4-3 against the US in the Olympics and has 9 golds to our 2. Including World Cup/Canada Cup and 4 Nations, Canada’s edge is 23-8-4. It’s their game still, but this would put us on even footing moving forward.

You’d have to go back to the 1996 World Cup of Hockey to find a group of American players that was considered on par with Canada. It’s actually a fun debate – is that group better than this current group? Nostalgia says yes, but the current skill and speed of the game looks totally different than it did then. I was watching clips from that 3 game series earlier and it was more of a brawl than a hockey game. That really put USA Hockey back on the map after floundering since 1980.

What also happened around the same time was the creation of the USNTDP in 1997 after some middling to awful results at World Juniors. “The Program,” coupled with NHL expansion, has led to the ascension of USA Hockey to the #2 ranked nation in the world, vaulting ahead of Russia, Sweden, and Finland amongst others. Instead of a “bunch of guys from Boston and Minnesota” players come from all over the country to build a truly national program and this current Olympic team has 17 USNTDP alumni on their roster.

Question Marks​

One of the bigger looming story lines is whether Sidney Crosby will play. He sat out the semi-final after have his left leg buckled under him and as per hockey guidelines we have no idea what his injury actually is. Unless his knee is completely shredded, I can’t see a guy like Crosby sitting this one out. If he does, that will be a major blow to the morale of team Canada (see: golden goal in 2010) and to Pittsburgh down the stretch, one of the teams we are trying to catch.

Tage Thompson also left the semi finals after getting a pretty brutal net-front cross check, but similar to Crosby, we have no idea what his deal is. Word is it was precautionary. He has been a perfect piece for this team, and has unleashed that bomb of his a few times, including some sort of magic trick in the semis from a bad angle. I’ve watched that a few times and still can’t figure out where he put it, and the goalie didn’t appear to have a hole in his chest. I was also looking forward to him and Jack playing together again.

The United States of Hughes​

Poor poor Tomas Tatar. The guy just wanted to slide into the European pro leagues on one last retirement deal, have a fun time nurturing the next wave of kids Slafkovsky and Nemec at the Olympics. And, here he is in the semi finals at the olympics getting put on a poster by Jack. I think it’s safe to say Jack is back, he has been absolutely electric this entire tournament in limited minutes. Sullivan was more or less forced to move him up the lineup to play with Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson and that trio torched their matchups through two periods against Slovakia. Through the semis Jack ranks 13th in scoring chance contributions for all players, done with minimal power play time and 3rd/4th line minutes. He has been the 3rd most effective offensive play driver on the team, and the only one not on the first PP unit. Need this version of Jack to show up if we are going to have any chance down the stretch.

The more I watch Quinn, the more I get annoyed at Tom Fitzgerald. How were you not prepared to make a godfather offer on him, man? Whether it’s clearing cap space, running out a beer league roster for a few games, or just beating the Wild’s offer. Remember when we traded for Timo Meier and he said something like “don’t make a move without calling me” – well for Quinn you do that too. I’m sorry to belabor the point but that was flat out malpractice. Quinn is just a freak of nature. Sorry rant over.

Here is some fun micro stat data from Jfresh, and lookie lookie who’s up top on per game offensive stats (please read the note up top to understand how its expressed):

Some bonus stats for the Olympics from InStat

forward player ratings in 20 microstat categories. pic.twitter.com/EPLybMwNSt

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) February 21, 2026

Your Thoughts?​

Can the boys pull this off? Do you think this will be close, or will a team pull away? How is everyone watching?

Play Free Bird

Oh Mama Don’t you Cry, USA Hockey is Do or Die

Rock Flag Eagle, LGUSA

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2...ew-and-final-olympic-gamethread-usa-vs-canada

 

[New Jersey Devils]

GOLD TO USA: Jack Hughes Scores Golden Goal as Connor Hellebuyck Stonewalls Canada in 2-1 Overtime Win

MILAN, ITALY - FEBRUARY 22: Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States celebrates scoring the game-winning goal in overtime during the Men's Gold Medal match between Canada and the United States on day 16 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 22, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Exhale.

The Game​

Team USA came out of the gates strong in the Gold Medal Game against Team Canada. Both sides came out playing a hard and heavy game, exchanging hits and going at each other to set the tone. But Team USA would strike first when Matt Boldy decided to do it himself, finding a weak spot in the Canadian blueline on the rush. He chipped the puck up and took it back, slipping behind Devon Toews and Cale Makar before sliding a backhander past Jordan Binnington. The USA took a 1-0 lead six minutes into the game.

Matt Boldy opens the scoring in the gold medal game from point-blank range

@NBCOlympics pic.twitter.com/a9XRiDfQql

— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 22, 2026

The game went back-and-forth until about the halfway point. Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington looked great in net but Team USA probably could have pressed a little harder for offense after gaining the early lead. With 10:35 left in the second period, Jake Guentzel took a bad penalty while chasing the puck, giving Team Canada a chance to tie the game. This went on for just 25 seconds before Charlie McAvoy took a careless tripping penalty, giving Canada a five-on-three for 1:33.

Thankfully, Dylan Larkin won the initial draw and Brock Faber cleared it. An early shot from Mackinnon went wide and ate up even more time, and Team USA sent out two forwards in Miller and Torcheck to kill more of the penalty. After J.T. Miller cleared the puck, Trocheck hit the jets to get another change for Dylan Larkin, and a quick whistle on a shot from Celebrini gave Canada one more chance to score off a faceoff. They did not thanks to the puck hopping over Brad Marchand’s stick, and Team USA got one last clear with under 20 seconds left to kill.

While Team USA was admirable on the kill, they continued to be far too defensive after the fact. By the end of the period, Canada was outshooting the USA by 10 shots, with Cale Makar sniping one past Connor Hellebuyck’s blocker off a faceoff with under two minutes to play. It was a great shot, as Quinn Hughes gave Hellebuyck the lane to see the shot by boxing Bo Horvat from the net. Still, facing so many shots in a period was a recipe for disaster, and the sheer volume eventually got to Hellebuyck.

Still thinking about this Cale Makar goal

pic.twitter.com/8Q5ubmRlIg

— DNVR Avalanche (@DNVR_Avalanche) February 22, 2026

The third period was a tough time for Team USA, despite Mike Sullivan trying to shift players around the lineup. Dylan Larkin joined the top line, while Brock Nelson and Matt Tkachuk joined Jack Hughes on the third, while Tage Thompson went down to the fourth. In the second minute of the frame, Devon Toews had the puck in the crease for Team Canada. Had he just slid it the puck, he would have scored. But he lifted it just a little bit, allowing Connor Hellebuyck the inches needed to make a stunning paddle save with a desperate sweep of the hand. Later, Hellebuyck made breakaway saves against Macklin Celebrini, with Canada then outshooting Team USA at about a 2:1 rate across the whole game. Connor Hellebuyck was having the game of his life, though, totally locked into everything thrown his way.

Late in the period, it looked like Team USA was handed a huge gift for victory when Sam Bennett took a wild high stick on Jack Hughes, breaking Jack’s teeth and drawing blood for a four-minute double minor with just 6:34 left to play. Unfortunately for Team USA, Sullivan did not change the first power play unit, which operated very slowly and only generated one scoring chance before changing off for the second wave. Here, Jack Hughes created some scoring opportunities but got caught on the boards, lost his footing, and took a high stick on Bo Horvat. Despite Team USA probably touching the puck, Canada got an extended chance to play with the empty net, taking off close to 30 seconds before the whistle was blown with 3:23 left in the period. The teams played at four-on-four for under a minute before Canada got one last power play opportunity.

Thankfully, despite some bad plays of the puck, Team USA survived to overtime.

In overtime, Team USA got the best chance on the first couple of rushes when Quinn Hughes fired a one-timer that deflected off of Jordan Binnington’s glove and wide of goal. I thought he had it, but Binnington was able to stretch out just enough to stop it. A couple of shifts later, Jack Hughes changed onto the ice with Canada rushing down. Facing Connor McDavid at full speed, Jack Hughes threw his body into McDavid to loosen the puck into the corner, denying a potential game-winning goal. Jack continued his pursuit of the puck as it was knocked around, jumping up to poke Zach Werenski’s pass past Cale Makar high in the zone.

There was blood in the water, and Zach Werenski took notice. Werenski made his judgement that he had to get on his horse to make another play. With Nathan Mackinnon just about to move the puck back up the ice in Canada’s direction, Werenski entered Team USA’s offensive zone and sealed him off the puck with a perfect hit, turning his body and boxing Mackinnon off. This created a passing lane back to Jack Hughes, who picked his spot and beat Jordan Binnington to deliver the gold medal to Team USA!

JACK HUGHES. THE MOMENT THAT WILL LIVE FOREVER. pic.twitter.com/Scbe23okx8

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026

Here is the full overtime for those who want to relive it. The final shift by Jack Hughes and Zach Werenski, beating three of the five best players in the world in McDavid, Makar, and Mackinnon in all three zones, should go down as one of the greatest shifts of all time.

The Aftermath​

Jack Hughes and Connor Hellebuyck deserve all of the love and praise for their games today. Hellebuyck, who has had a rough history in big-time games, put in the biggest game a goalie could possibly have. The New Jersey Devils’ very own Jack Hughes, who was written off after a fluky Four Nations performance in which his linemates could not bury a single puck, had the best minute-for-minute performance of any skater at the Olympics. Full stop. Jack Hughes was the best skater at the Olympics, and he had to be a goalscorer in the Golden Game. It was fated, and he was all smiles after the game.

THE CHEERS jack hughes you are so loved pic.twitter.com/yHxBF9ROGX

— sienna (@firstoffim511) February 22, 2026

And he had a hell of an interview, too.

Jack Hughes processing the emotions of the CLUTCH overtime goal for GOLD! pic.twitter.com/TAX9U76pbK

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2026

Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck. He was our best player tonight by a mile. Unbelievable game. Unreal game by our team. That’s just a ballsy, gutsy win. That’s American hockey right there. That’s a great Canadian team, but we’re USA.

Jack is right — Hellebuyck deserves his flowers.

xG from the Gold Medal Game (per @Sportlogiq)

All Situations
– 5.61
– 2.74

5v5
– 4.45
– 2.12

Take a bow Connor Hellebuyck

— Brock Seguin (@Brock_Seguin) February 22, 2026

Facing that kind of workload and still stopping shot after shot is rockstar stuff.

Of course, the celebration did not end there. As Team USA skated around the ice with their flags, players began to skate Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey around the ice. This is an emotional enough of a sight for us watching the game, but Johnny was like a brother to so many of the players on the ice, whether he played with them on Team USA or on the Calgary Flames or Columbus Blue Jackets.

Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski, and Matthew Tkachuk skate around with Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey pic.twitter.com/p9DF2wanqL

— NHL News (@PuckReportNHL) February 22, 2026

When Team USA went to take their pictures on the ice, they did not just hold the jersey up. Zach Werenski, Johnny’s teammate in Columbus, skated out with Johnny’s daughter, while Dylan Larkin skated out with Johnny Jr., who celebrates his second birthday today. These kids (adorable, too), joined the team for the photo their father should have been a part of. Gaudreau forever.

Full video of Johnny Gaudreau’s kids honored on the ice #USA #USAHockey pic.twitter.com/VH78hivgn7

— Ben Rice Foundation (@Parmsisreal) February 22, 2026

This win will go down in history.

Your Thoughts​

What did you think of today’s Gold Medal game? Were you thrilled? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2...lebuyck-stonewalls-canada-in-2-1-overtime-win