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In the world of international sports, no rivalry burns quite as hot as USA versus Canada on the ice. This matchup is defined by the weight of history and the echo of legendary calls -- from the eruptive roar of Sidney Crosby’s "Golden Goal" in Vancouver to the memory of Connor McDavid’s overtime winner just one year ago in the 4 Nations Face-Off. Even as Canada leans on its status as the "Gold Standard" of the sport, the Americans enter tonight searching for their first men’s Olympic gold since the "Miracle on Ice" team defied the odds at Lake Placid in 1980.
With the long-awaited return of best-on-best NHL participation to the global stage, the stakes in Milano have reached a fever pitch. The pride of two nations rests on every redirected puck and every sprawling save, as seasoned legends chase one final moment of glory while electrifying young stars prepare to seize the mantle of the next generation. This is more than a game—it is a showcase of the sport’s absolute pinnacle, where one mistake can lead to a lifetime of "what-ifs," and one heroic effort can cement a legacy forever. To understand how this heavyweight fight will be won, we must look at the individual engines driving these two machines.
Here are the top 10 players in the USA-Canada gold medal game.
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1. Connor McDavid, Canada
Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
On Feb. 20, 2025, Connor McDavid scored the golden goal to propel Canada over the United States and win the 4 Nations Face-Off—the first best-on-best hockey competition since the 2016 World Cup and the first USA vs. Canada final since Sidney Crosby’s Olympic golden goal in 2010. It was the definition of a passing of the torch, an iconic moment that will live on forever in the rivalry.
Exactly 365 days later, Canada punched its ticket to the gold medal game in a poetic way: with captain Crosby out, McDavid wore the "C" for Canada. With two points in the semifinal against Finland, he set the record for most points by an NHL player in a single Olympics, tallying 13 points in just five games and surpassing the legendary marks set by the greats who came before him.
There’s no better player in this game—or in this generation—than McDavid. He enters this final as the most decorated active player on the planet, boasting three Hart Trophies as the league’s MVP and five Art Ross Trophies as its scoring champion. Since entering the NHL, he has operated at a historic 1.53 points-per-game pace—the highest of any player in the modern era—and recently became just the fourth player in history to record a 100-assist season. Having already added a Rocket Richard Trophy and a Conn Smythe to his mantle, an Olympic gold medal is the final piece of the puzzle for a resume already tracking toward the greatest of all time.
MORE: Mike Eruzione talks U.S.-Canada gold medal game
2. Nathan MacKinnon, Canada
MacKinnon cemented his status as the sport’s ultimate closer, burying a power-play game-winner with just 35.2 seconds remaining to complete a three-goal comeback and avoid a massive upset in Milan.
There is no more terrifying force in open ice than MacKinnon. The Colorado Avalanche superstar is the reigning Hart Trophy winner and Ted Lindsay Award recipient, coming off a historic 140-point campaign that saw him finish as the NHL’s second-leading scorer. MacKinnon’s resume is a masterclass in modern dominance: a Stanley Cup champion, a Calder Trophy winner, and now a four-time 40-goal scorer who currently leads the NHL in even-strength production.
MORE: Inside the history of the USA-Canada hockey rivalry
3. Quinn Hughes, USA
Amber Searls - Imagn Images
Hughes has been Team USA’s main revelation this Olympics. After missing the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025 with an injury — a tumultuous period where he famously attempted to join the team in Boston for the final against Canada only to be denied by league protocol — he enters the gold medal game as the best defenseman on the ice.
The Minnesota Wild star has led Team USA in ice time nearly every game, and there are few skaters on the planet better than him. His control at the blue line, his ability to play a 200-foot game, and the complete vision he possesses are unteachable. Take his heroics in the quarterfinal against Sweden, for example: after waving off a line change to stay in the fight, Hughes gathered the puck in overtime, shimmied past a defender, and snapped a shot off the post and in to keep the American gold medal dream alive.
As he stands one win away from the podium, Hughes is the undeniable X-factor at the blue line. Having sat out the last best-on-best final, he is playing like a man determined to make sure this time, the ending is different.
MORE: United States dominates Slovakia, sets up battle with Canada for gold medal
4. Cale Makar, Canada
Makar remains the gold standard for what a modern defenseman can achieve, entering this gold medal game as the only player in history to win the Hobey Baker, Calder, Norris, Conn Smythe, and Stanley Cup — a collection of hardware that underscores his status as a generational phenomenon. After winning his second Norris Trophy in 2025, he has transitioned seamlessly to the Olympic stage, serving as the defensive anchor for a Canadian team that has relied on his poise during high-stakes moments in Milan.
Makar’s impact is defined by a level of skating and offensive instinct that often leaves opponents looking stationary. He was instrumental in Canada’s semifinal comeback against Finland, walking the blue line with his signature lateral agility to set up the game-tying goal. His ability to quarterback the power play alongside McDavid and MacKinnon is a nightmare for opposing penalty kills, but it’s his underlying defensive metrics and active stick that make him truly complete. Having already secured a 4 Nations Face-Off title exactly one year ago — where he notched the primary assist on the golden goal — Makar is now looking to add the one major trophy missing from his mantle.
MORE: Sporting News predictions for the USA-Canada gold medal game
5. Auston Matthews, USA
Finally, we have Captain America, who made a name for himself playing for a Team Up North.
Matthews arrives at this gold medal game with a massive point to prove and the weight of a nation’s expectations on his shoulders. While his 69-goal pedigree in the NHL is unrivaled, he has faced scrutiny for his lack of finish in international best-on-best play, specifically after going goalless in last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off. The memory of the 2025 final in Boston still looms large, particularly the agonizing overtime sequence when he received a cross-crease pass in the slot and had the golden goal on his stick, only to be denied by a desperate Jordan Binnington pad save.
As the American captain, Matthews has been elite at driving possession and winning 60% of his draws in Milan, along with three goals in the group stages and a 200-foot game that has been noticeably different. But his legacy in this rivalry and in USA Hockey hinges on whether he can finally bury the chance that defines his career.
MORE: Inside Team USA's 2026 Olympic roster
6. Sidney Crosby, Canada
Geoff Burke
The Canadian captain may be in the twilight of his career at 38, but his impact remains immeasurable to the Canadian bench.
After a collision with Radko Gudas in the quarterfinals against Czechia left him with a lower-body injury, Crosby’s status was the biggest question mark of the tournament. However, if he is good to go, there's no doubt Crosby will be one of the best players on the ice.
Even at this stage, "Sid the Kid" has been one of Canada’s most efficient playmakers, recording six points in the group stage and serving as the bridge between the 2010 "Golden Goal" era and the McDavid era.
His presence in the lineup provides a psychological edge that no other player in the world can replicate, offering a stabilizing force in the highest-pressure moments. Moreover, when thinking about this rivalry, there's no moment bigger than his 2010 goal in the Gold Medal Game, the last time these two faced off in the final.
MORE: Will injured star Sidney Crosby play for Canada vs. Team USA?
7. Macklin Celebrini, Canada
James Lang - Imagn Images
The 19-year-old sensation has spent the last two weeks proving that he isn't just the future of the sport — he is the present.
Ranking fourth in the NHL in scoring as a teenager, Celebrini has played with a physical fearlessness that belies his age, thriving in the high-traffic areas of the ice. With five goals already in the tournament, he trails only McDavid for the team lead in points and has taken over the first power-play unit in Crosby’s absence. Watching him dictate play against seasoned NHL superstars makes it clear that Canada’s depth is an almost insurmountable hurdle.
This ranking feels a little low, but considering the talent in this game, here's where Celebrini slides.
MORE: Where Macklin Celebrini ranks among youngest Olympians ever
8. Jack Hughes, USA
There have always been lingering questions surrounding Jack Hughes—critiques of his durability, his ability to handle physicality, or his consistency under pressure. But when the lights brighten, the 2019 No. 1 overall pick consistently proves he is one of the most electric talents the sport has ever seen.
After a relatively quiet group stage, the Devils' superstar erupted in the semifinals against Slovakia, netting two goals and showcasing the elusive edge-work and lateral quickness that makes him a nightmare to track in transition. Hughes has since been promoted to a lethal speed-line alongside Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson, a trio that has spent the tournament out-skating every defensive pairing they’ve encountered.
The fire in Jack’s game is visible, fueled by the emotional toll of watching his brother, Quinn, forced out of the 2025 final with an injury, combined with his own frustration over a scoreless Four Nations tournament last year. He has already buried three goals in this Olympic run — all of them highlight-reel plays — and has emerged as the Americans' primary weapon for cracking Canada’s structured defensive shell. There is no player on the planet who thrives in open ice quite like Hughes, and in a game of this magnitude, expect him to leave his tracks all over the ice.
MORE: Olympic hockey predictions 2026
9. Connor Hellebuyck, USA
Going into the tournament, the one place the Americans had a definitive advantage was in the crease.
Hellebuyck enters the gold medal game as the statistical titan of the tournament, leading all goaltenders with a staggering .958 save percentage and a tournament-best 1.23 goals-against average. Despite some noise about his inconsistent NHL season with the Winnipeg Jets, he has been a "calming presence" for Team USA, effectively erasing mistakes and playing with a calculating, stoic mind that appears immune to the pressure of the Olympic stage.
The narrative surrounding Hellebuyck has often focused on his ability to translate regular-season greatness — including three Vezina Trophies and a Hart Trophy — into a legacy-defining championship. He was nearly perfect in the quarterfinal against Sweden, stopping 28 of 29 shots, and remained the primary reason the USA pushed the Four Nations final to overtime last year.
In a gold medal game featuring this much offensive firepower, Hellebuyck isn't just a goalie; he is the ultimate insurance policy. If he can outduel Jordan Binnington, he won't just secure gold — he'll silence the big game critics once and for all.
MORE: Updated medal count for Team USA
10. Jack Eichel, USA
Often overlooked in the best in the world debates dominated by McDavid and MacKinnon, Eichel has arguably been the most consistent American forward in Milan. He has thrived as the high-IQ facilitator of the U.S. offense, currently leading all American skaters in points and assists during his debut Olympic run. Eichel’s game is defined by a rare combination of technical skating ability and a heavy, hard-nosed style; centering the Tkachuk brothers, the line has been at the center of the American dominance. Those two might take a bunch of the headlines, but Eichel has made the line the one of best in the tournament.
Take the preliminary matchup against Denmark, for example. With the U.S. trailing 2-1 and facing a potential upset, Eichel took over the circle. He won a clean offensive-zone faceoff to Brady Tkachuk, who buried it to tie the game; then, less than a minute later, he won another draw, gathered the puck himself, and ripped it home for the game-winner. His impact was even more apparent in the semifinal rout of Slovakia, where he silenced the arena by burying a backhand goal just nine seconds after Jack Hughes had scored, effectively breaking the game open before the second intermission.
After winning a Stanley Cup and leading the NHL in playoff scoring in 2023, Eichel has developed a reputation for elevating his game when the stakes are highest. As the center of a dynamic line that relies on his faceoff dominance and elite puck protection, he is the steady hand the Americans are counting on to finally bring the gold back across the border.
MORE: Inside the Hughes family tree
11. Jordan Binnington, Canada
Geoff Burke - Imagn Images
Is Jordan Binnington a top 10 player in this game? No, not even close. Is he a top 20 player? Probably not. But it would be insane not to include him in a list of the most important players taking the ice. Binnington is the ultimate anomaly in modern hockey — a goalie whose regular-season statistics often suggest he’s a liability, yet whose big-game resume makes him a legend.
While he entered the 2026 Olympics statistically near the bottom of the NHL with a struggling St. Louis Blues squad, Binnington possesses a rare psychological armor that thrives on friction and high stakes. His history in these moments is undeniable: he backstopped the Blues from the league basement to a Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2019, and exactly one year ago today, he was the hero of the 4 Nations Face-Off. It was his spectacular, desperation glove save on Auston Matthews in that 2025 overtime final that allowed Canada to stay alive long enough for Connor McDavid to find the winner.
In Milan, the pattern has repeated itself. Despite widespread criticism of his selection, he silenced doubters with a series of game-saving stops in a three-goal semifinal comeback against Finland. To the Canadian coaching staff, Binnington’s value isn't found in a season-long save percentage; it’s found in his ability to look the world's best shooters in the eye during a gold medal overtime and refuse to blink.
He isn't the best player on this list, but he is the one most capable of turning a dominant American performance into a heartbreaking silver medal.
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