The United States women's hockey team beat Slovakia 6-2 in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic semifinals Friday night. Jack Hughes scored two goals to lead the rout. Now they face top-seeded Canada in Sunday's gold medal game for a shot at glory.
Key Takeaways
- US rolled past Slovakia with six goals, including two from Jack Hughes.
- Win sends US to final against tournament favorite Canada.
- Game happened at Santagiulia Arena in Milan.
- US seeks first gold since 2018 after Canada's 2022 win.
Background
Hockey fans know the rivalry between US and Canada runs deep. These teams meet often in big games. Canada took gold in 2022 by beating the US 3-2. Before that, US won in 2018 on shootout. Thursday's gold medal game saw US edge Canada 2-1 in overtime. Megan Keller scored the winner at 4:07 OT. That win gave US their third Olympic gold ever.
But this semifinal was different. US faced Slovakia. Not the usual powerhouse. Still, it mattered. A win meant the final. Canada waited there as top seed. They've dominated before. US wanted to build momentum. Players trained hard for four years. Coach pushed them daily. Now payoff time nears.
And the crowd felt it. Santagiulia Arena buzzed. Fans from both nations filled seats. Chants echoed. US team stayed calm. They knew Slovakia could surprise. But focus stayed sharp. Early goals set tone. Late ones sealed it. Simple as that.
Years of work led here. US lost to Canada last Olympics. Hurt bad. They vowed change. New drills. Tougher practices. Bonds grew tight. Captain rallied troops. "We stick together," she said often. Results show. Perfect run almost. Now Canada looms again.
Rivalry adds spice. Canada hosts many tournaments. US beats them at times. Like under-18 worlds recently. US shut out Canada 2-0 for 10th gold. Bianca Birrittieri stopped 38 shots. Perfect record there too. Patterns emerge. US peaking now.
Key Details
Game started fast. US struck early. First period: two goals. Jack Hughes opened scoring. Quick wrist shot. Top corner. Unstoppable. Teammates mobbed him. Momentum shifted. Slovakia pushed back. But US defense held.
Second period heated up. Hughes struck again. Deflected puck. Goalie fooled. 3-1 now. Crowd roared. US controlled puck. Shots piled up. Slovakia tired. Penalties hurt them. Power play goals came. Ruthless.
Goal Breakdown
- Jack Hughes (1st period): Beat goalie clean.
- Hughes again (2nd): Rebound tap-in.
- Third US goal: Odd-man rush finish.
- Fourth: Power play one-timer.
- Fifth: Empty netter late.
- Sixth: Breakaway deke.
Slovakia got two. One early slip. One late rally. Not enough. US goaltender stellar. 25 saves. Shut down chances. Faceoffs won. Hits landed. Stats favored US heavy.
Coach praised effort post-game. Players hugged. Skates off ice. Eyes on Sunday.
"I'm lost for words. This is an incredible feeling. I love these girls so much. This group deserves it." – Megan Keller, US defender
She scored Thursday. Helped build confidence. Teammates echoed her. Joy mixed with focus. Canada next. Bigger test.
US linked arms during anthem. See ESPN's takeover of MLB streaming for more sports shifts. And check Alysa Liu's skating gold ending US drought here in Milan.
Stats tell story. US outshot Slovakia 42-19. Possession dominated. Hits 35-12. Perfect penalty kill. No weak spots.
Players shone. Hughes two goals, assist. Others chipped in. Forward lines rolled. Defense blocked shots. Goaltender saw pucks clean.
Slovakia fought. Young team. Gutsy. But experience gap showed. US pros at this level.
What This Means
Final against Canada huge. Best-on-best. Winner takes gold. Loser silver. Stakes sky high. US hungry after 2022 loss. Canada wants revenge from OT defeat.
Path to gold clear now. Sunday at same arena. Sellout expected. TV ratings soar. Fans tune in worldwide.
For US, win erases past. Builds legacy. Young stars emerge. Hughes leads. Others follow. Future bright.
Canada preps hard. Top seed for reason. Deep roster. Speed everywhere. But US matches it. Recent under-18 win proves.
Olympics spotlight grows. Medal rounds pack arenas. This matchup defines tournament. Rivalry renews. History repeats?
Players rest today. Film study tomorrow. Scrimmages light. Bodies recover. Minds sharpen.
World watches. US versus Canada. Always electric. Gold on line. Anything possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the US-Canada gold medal game?
Sunday at Santagiulia Arena in Milan. Puck drop evening local time.
Who is Jack Hughes and what did he do?
US forward. Scored two goals in 6-2 semifinal win over Slovakia. Key player.
Has US beaten Canada recently?
Yes. Thursday OT win 2-1 for gold. Also under-18 worlds 2-0 shutout.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the US-Canada gold medal game?
Sunday at Santagiulia Arena in Milan. Puck drop evening local time.
Who is Jack Hughes and what did he do?
US forward. Scored two goals in 6-2 semifinal win over Slovakia. Key player.
Has US beaten Canada recently?
Yes. Thursday OT win 2-1 for gold. Also under-18 worlds 2-0 shutout.
