NHL teams congratulate Team USA, Canada after epic gold medal game

An incredible gold medal game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 between the United States and Canada, won by Team USA 2-1 in overtime, lit up social media — and featured more than its fair share of mixed emotions.

Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal for the U.S. and no one was more pumped than the New Jersey Devils.

Things were less clear-cut for the Winnipeg Jets, which play in Manitoba but had to watch their star goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, stand on his head for the United States, especially in the third period with the game deadlocked 1-1.

One particular stop on Canada's Devon Toews, who plays for the Jets' Western Conference rival Colorado Avalanche in the NHL, became an instant iconic photo and the Jets admin knew it.

And it wasn't just online where emotions were mixed. Canada coach Jon Cooper shared a congratulatory postgame hug with Team USA forward Jake Guentzel. Both will return to their NHL team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, this week.

Team USA captain Auston Matthews is also captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, which congratulated him for the victory on social media.

When it was all over, the United States had it's first men's hockey gold medal since the 1980 'Miracle on Ice' team, handshake lines were formed and fans were treated to one of the most incredible hockey games in Olympic history.