‘Not gonna find a better hockey game’: What to know about Canada vs. USA
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Could there be a more perfect tiebreaker? Or one more thickly coated in legacy and rivalry and patriotism?
“We’re not back home. We're in Italy playing,” begins all grown-up Tom Wilson, who grew up playing at North Toronto Memorial Arena.
“But it's not that long ago that you were the kid in the classroom when they wheeled those old big TVs in. You’d put the antennas up so you can get the signal and watch Team Canada play. I remember being there.
“And seeing your local rink with watch parties cheering you on, I mean, that's why we're here. We're here for our country. We're here to try and make them proud. It's not about us. If you ask any single guy in that room, it's way bigger than us. And all I can do, all we can do, at this point is just leave it all out there for our country.”
“It’s best on best, it’s what every American and Canadian grows up watching, grows up hearing about,” Matthew Tkachuk said. “This is the pinnacle of the sport. This is as good as it gets, a rivalry that’s as good as it gets. There will not be one TV without this game on in the United States and Canada. That should get you pretty fired up.”
The elder Tkachuk may not be exaggerating. No sooner had Canada punched their ticket for the final than Ontario premier Doug Ford announced all restaurants in the nation’s most populous province can serve alcohol beginning at 6am on Sunday ahead of the scheduled 8.10am ET start.
Brady Tkachuk admits to ‘hatred’ as US and Canada prepare for Olympic men’s ice hockey final
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“There’s hatred there,” USA’s Brady Tkachuk told ESPN on Saturday. “I mean, they’ve been the top dog. They’ve been the best for the last bunch of years, and for us, we want to be in that position, be the best. So it’s going to be a game where I think a lot of guys could say, this is the biggest game that they’ve ever played in.”
The rivalry between the teams has sharpened recently, particularly as political tensions have risen between Canada and the United States. At last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, Canadian fans booed the US anthem and there were a number of on-ice fights.
Canada’s Connor McDavid acknowledged there is extra spice when his team play the US.
“It is the game everybody wanted and hoped for, and it will be a great game,” he said. “It now comes down to one game between two teams. It is a hockey game, and we are excited about that. Team Canada playing Team USA in a hockey game – that is what it is.
US vs. Canada for Olympic gold is a titanic showdown of hockey powerhouses
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Canada and the U.S. entered the tournament as the favorites and played like it. Each team went undefeated, winning all five games, with the U.S. outscoring opponents 24-8 and outshooting them 201-124 and Canada 27-8 and 202-106.
“It’s two of probably the best teams ever, maybe,” U.S. winger Matthew Tkachuk said. “We’ve got a lot of respect for the players over there and what they’ve done in the past, and we want to be the team that comes out on top.”
This will be the 20th time that the teams have met at the Winter Olympics.
Canada have won 12 of their previous encounters, with the U.S. winning only four. Team USA did, though, prevail 4-2 in their most recent Olympic match in the group stage at Beijing 2022.
In their five Olympic clashes when NHL players have participated, Canada boast a 4-1 win record over their rivals.
The last Olympic final featuring the sides was Vancouver 2010, when Canada won 3-2 in overtime thanks to Sidney Crosby’s golden goal.
The last time they met in any competition was the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off on 20 February 2025, when Team Canada beat the U.S. 3-2 in overtime, with McDavid scoring the winning goal.
Because of my job I’m up quite early every day even when off tour. I happen to be off tomorrow so I’m extremely excited for the 0600 start. I appreciate I’m in the minority on that start time but I’m really looking forward to it. It’s been great watching the Olympics at 0400 on when I’ve been able to and tomorrow is going to be coup de grâce or whatever that term is.
Poetry, history and Game 9 - Canada and United States to battle for Olympic gold
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As the Olympic rings stand sentry, Canada and the United States will meet on the biggest stage with a gold medal on the line. TSN's Michael Farber details the exhilarating matchup that will see two nations stuck in a 21st century neighbourhood feud put it all on the line Sunday.
Everyone is talking about Crosby, but Morrissey is the bigger loss. The second pairing is so much stronger with his puck moving and all-around game.
Including Point, Canada is missing its #2 d-man and two top-6 forwards. Unlike the 4 Nations, the U.S. is definitely going into this one as the healthier team.
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
I expect it will be a close game. Hopefully Crosby can go and collect his third career gold medal. I get up at 7 quite frequently on Sunday's, but I think Sochi was the last time I was up before 6.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Everyone is talking about Crosby, but Morrissey is the bigger loss. The second pairing is so much stronger with his puck moving and all-around game.
Including Point, Canada is missing its #2 d-man and two top-6 forwards. Unlike the 4 Nations, the U.S. is definitely going into this one as the healthier team.
Yup. With the kind of depth these teams have, an injury or two usually isn't a problem. But Canada misses Point's speed, and Morrissey puts a bit of a hole in the D. And Crosby isn't replaceable.
It's a hurdle for sure.
It's time for McDavid to make his mark, to lift himself into the top shelf of hockey greatness.
5am start here, yuck. But no way I'm missing this one.
Need everyone to step up, especially the depth guys, they might end up being the difference makers. And please no stupid penalties......I'm looking at you Wilson.
Canada vs USA - Gold Medal Game - Men’s Hockey
