Team USA’s Matt Boldy puts the Americans on board first

Tensions were high for the Winter Olympic gold medal men’s ice hockey game between Team USA and Canada on Sunday, and it was the Americans who had the crowd on its feet early.

American forward Matt Boldy received the puck in the center of the ice. He knocked the puck forward and was able to split Canadian defensemen Devon Toews and Cale Makar. None of the Canadian defenders were able to stop him.

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USA’s Matt Boldy, center, celebrates after scoring the opening goal during a men’s ice hockey gold medal game between Canada and the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Boldy pulled the puck back and got it around Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington for the first score of the game. It came on Team USA’s first shot. Auston Matthews and Quinn Hughes were credited with assists.

The score sent the Milan crowd into a frenzy and the incredible goal sparked plenty of reaction on social media.

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USA led 1-0 after the first period.

Boldy, who plays in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild, is on the Olympic roster for the first time. He was part of Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off and had a goal and two assists in the tournament last year. Canada defeated the Americans in the final of that tournament as the rivalry between the two nations was revived.

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USA’s Matt Boldy (12) celebrates with USA’s Jaccob Slavin (74) and USA’s Brock Faber (14) after scoring a goal against Canada during the first period of the men’s ice hockey gold medal match at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Canada played a little short-handed in the final. The team was without Sidney Crosby for the game as he suffered a lower body injury earlier in the Olympics.