Four reasons why Team USA can beat Canada in gold-medal game

The United States and Canada are facing off in another championship game on Sunday when they meet for the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The United States is trying to win its first men's hockey gold medal since the 1980 Miracle On Ice team at Lake Placid, and this game is being played 46 years to the day. 

While the anniversary of the most significant moment in American hockey history may not mean much for this game, there are a couple of factors that could help the United States win gold.

Here are four of them. 

Team USA should have the goaltending advantage

Goaltending can be the biggest X-factor in hockey, and that is especially true in winner-take-all, elimination games. It is the great equalizer. It can be a game-changer. While there is no way of knowing how an individual goalie will play in any one particular game, all you can do is give yourself the best possible staring option.

The United States has that with Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets).

While Canada goalie Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) has developed a reputation for playing his best in big games, having won both a Stanley Cup and the 4 Nations, while also playing well so far in this tournament, Hellebuyck is the superior goalie and one of the best in the world when he is at his best.

He is a three time Vezina Trophy winner, the reigning league MVP and has consistently elevated an otherwise-flawed Winnipeg team. The only thing his career is missing at this point is major team success on either the international stage or in the NHL. This is his chance. 

Binnington's big-game reputation aside, he has been one of the worst goalies in the NHL this season and is clearly the Achilles' heel on this Canadian roster. If the United States has a big position advantage on paper, this is where it is. 

Quinn Hughes (Minnesota Wild) is here, and he is electric

Aside from Hellebuyck, this is the biggest thing that should give the Americans belief that this time will be different.

When they played Canada at the 4 Nations a year ago, Hughes did not play due to injury and was not available in the championship game or tournament as a whole.

He has not only played in this tournament, he has arguably been the United States' best player. He is one of the best defensemen in hockey, an elite puck-mover and a dominant force offensively. He has at least one point in every game in the tournament and scored the game-winning overtime goal in the quarterfinals against Sweden. 

He can change a game. He already has in this tournament. He can also be the difference between gold and silver. 

Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) may not be available for Canada

It remains to be seen where or not Canada's captain will play after suffering a lower-body injury in the quarterfinals and sitting out the semifinal game against Finland. Rest assured, he is going to give it everything he has to be out there.

If he does, he may not be 100 percent healthy.

If he does not, that is a massive absence in Canada's lineup. 

Crosby may not be the best player in the world at this stage of his career, but he is almost certainly still in the top 10, even at age 38. Canada was able to sneak by Finland with him sidelined. The United States will be a tougher test. 

This is the best American Olympic team ever

If not now, when? If not this team, what team? It really is as simple as that. The United States has been close in these games against Canada in the past, losing in overtime in the 2010 Olympics and the 2025 4 Nations Face-off. This team is better than both of them, and by a significant margin. 

They have the goaltending. They have depth. They have superstars all over the lineup. This is the team that can do it.