As the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics enter the final day on Sunday, one highly-awaited competition will get underway well before the closing ceremony.
It’s the much-anticipated showdown featuring undefeated U.S. and Canada in the men’s gold hockey game — what Team USA’s Zach Werenski called “the matchup everyone wanted.”
The battle between two powerful rivals, which each feature some of the world’s best players, caps the NHL’s return to the Olympics following a 12-year absence. The two top seeds in the tournament, who went in as the favorites, will meet a year after two memorable games against each other at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
“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.”
Canada’s Tom Wilson said “it’s gonna be a big-boy game.”
“It’s going to be as fast and physical and skilled as you can ever imagine,” he stated. “Right now it’s the two big countries for hockey in the world. Every single guy is going to be doing everything they can at every single moment.”
As the matchup approaches, here’s when you need to tune in to catch the action, viewing options and the last time American claimed victory.
When is the men’s hockey gold medal game?
The men’s gold medal game begins at 7:10 a.m. CT on Sunday morning.
Where can I watch it?
While the final will air live on NBC, that’s not the only place you can tune in.
It can also be streamed at the link below:
When did the US and Canada last face off in the gold medal game?
The U.S. last reached the final in 2010, when it lost to Canada in overtime on Sidney Crosby’s famous golden goal. Crosby’s status is uncertain this time after getting injured in the quarterfinals Wednesday and not playing Friday against Finland.
The last U.S. men’s hockey gold came in 1980 with the “Miracle on Ice” in Lake Placid.
“It definitely motivates us,” Werenski said. “We’ve talked about. We’re well aware of it. I don’t think it’s pressure. It’s fun. It’s exciting.”
Sunday’s final will be a repeat of the women’s gold medal match, during which the U.S. beat Canada in a thrilling overtime encounter Thursday.
