In a heart-stopping finish, Team Canada fell to Team USA in a 2-1 overtime thriller for the Olympic gold medal. Just last year, Canada had the upper hand against the Americans in the 4 Nations Face-Off, winning in a five-on-five overtime. But the Olympic stage in Milan brought a different challenge with its three-on-three format, akin to the NHL's regular season setup.
Canada's head coach, Jon Cooper, didn't hold back when discussing the overtime rules. He pointed out that reducing the number of players changes the essence of the game.
“You take four players off the ice, now hockey’s not hockey anymore,” he remarked, highlighting the influence of TV demands on game formats. Unlike the Stanley Cup Playoffs, where traditional overtimes prevail, the Olympics opted for the quicker, more open style.
The difference in format was palpable. Last year, Connor McDavid capitalized on a defensive lapse in a full-strength overtime to secure victory. This year, Jack Hughes found the space he needed to score the decisive goal, thanks to the extra room on the ice.
Canada controlled much of the game, particularly in the last 30 minutes of regulation, but they were repeatedly stymied by Connor Hellebuyck. The reigning NHL MVP was a wall in net, setting the stage for Hughes to clinch the win in the extra period.
Despite several opportunities, including a promising rush from McDavid, Canada couldn't find the back of the net in overtime. It was a tough pill to swallow for Cooper's squad, who left it all on the ice but came up just short in their quest for gold.