In a showdown that will be etched in the annals of American hockey history, fans across the nation celebrated as Jack Hughes emerged as the hero, while Bo Horvat found himself on the other side of the ice. This moment of triumph resonated from coast to coast, leaving Canadian fans questioning what went wrong.
For Canada, a Silver Medal simply doesn't cut it. With the tournament now concluded, there's bound to be some introspection and second-guessing north of the border.
A key point of contention? The decision by Hockey Canada to leave Matthew Schaefer off the roster for Milan.
Matthew Schaefer's Absence: A Missed Opportunity for Canada
Canada cruised through pool play, dominating their opponents. But when the stakes were raised in the knockout stages, they seemed to falter.
In the quarter-finals against Czechia, Canada was often playing catch-up, only advancing thanks to Mitch Marner's overtime heroics. The semi-finals saw them trailing Finland by two goals late in the second period.
They managed to tie it up, but it took a last-minute power play goal from Nathan MacKinnon to secure their spot in the Gold Medal Game.
Then came the final clash against the USA. Canada never held the lead, and Hughes' golden goal sealed their fate, relegating them to Silver. The absence of a player like Schaefer, who could have bolstered their lineup, will surely be a topic of discussion as Canada looks to regroup and reclaim their dominant status on the ice.