It was a hockey showdown that will be etched in the memory of American fans for years to come. For a single day, NY Islanders fans found themselves in an unusual position, cheering against Bo Horvat and rallying behind Jack Hughes. The triumph resonated across the United States, while in Canada, the silver medal left fans pondering what went wrong.
For Canadians, silver isn't quite the golden standard they aim for. With the tournament wrapped up, there's bound to be some second-guessing, especially about Hockey Canada's decision to leave Matthew Schaefer off the roster for Milan.
Matthew Schaefer: The Missing Piece?
Canada cruised through pool play, dominating opponents with ease. However, the knockout stages told a different story.
In the quarter-finals against Czechia, Canada struggled, often finding themselves tied or trailing. It took an overtime goal from Mitch Marner to push them into the medal rounds.
The semi-finals were another nail-biter, with Canada trailing Finland by two goals late in the second period. They managed to tie it up, and a clutch power play goal by Nathan MacKinnon with just 36 seconds left secured their spot in the Gold Medal Game.
But the final showdown against the USA was a different beast. Canada never held the lead, and Hughes’ golden goal ensured Canada settled for silver. The absence of Schaefer, a potential game-changer, is now a hot topic in the post-tournament analysis.