MILAN (AP) — The work by Jack Hughes to create the golden goal in overtime for the U.S. at the Winter Olympics started long before he shot the puck into the net.

After Connor McDavid was unable to finish his scoring chance early in the three-on-three overtime, Hughes collected the puck behind his own net at the other end of the rink, and Zach Werenski knew he had something bubbling.

“Kind of a weird play," Werenski said. “They had a chance, so usually when that happens in three-on-three, you can kind of take advantage of that and go the other way.”

Hughes had a little give and go with Werenski. Canada’s Cale Makar, a two-time Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s best defenseman, had a chance to break it up early and couldn’t poke the puck away.

“I was kind of in a tough spot there,” Makar said. “I saw the puck bounce, and unfortunately it’s either you back it up and live to fight another day or try and make a play on it. But if you don’t get the puck, you’ve got to get the man and unfortunately I didn’t get both. Just couldn’t get back.”

Hughes followed Werenski up the ice. Werenski went right at Nathan MacKinnon, banking the puck off the 2023-24 NHL MVP.

“It happened quick,” Werenski said. “I really didn’t see much. It was kind of a broken play. I know we had three guys up in the rush. I think it hit off MacKinnon’s skate and came back to me.”

But Werenski also knew Hughes was coming and turned around.

“I kind of just saw a white jersey on the far ice and just tried to throw it over there as quick as I could,” Werenski said. “I got it to the right guy. He’s been hot all tournament.”

Hughes just needed to make sure he didn't miss the net, something Canada did a lot in regulation. He instead fired it past goaltender Jordan Binnington, who had been solid throughout the tournament and again in the gold medal game.

"Overtime, anything can happen,” Hughes said. "Who’s going to make the first mistake? Just a good paly by Larks and Z getting up the ice. Obviously, Z found me.”

Hughes’ goal came four days after Megan Keller also scored in OT to win gold for the U.S. on the women’s side. This is the first time the U.S. has won men’s and women’s hockey titles at the Olympics.

Captain Auston Matthews enjoyed a lot about the tournament, but there's one top highlight that stands out.

“When Jack scored,” Matthews said. “That that moment's going to stick with me for a very, very long time.”

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

MILAN (AP) — The United States is 40 minutes away from playing for the gold medal in men’s hockey at the Olympics.

Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson scored in the first period of the semifinal against Slovakia to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead. Thompson is one of just a handful of newcomers on the team who did not play at the NHL-run 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago.

Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck has stopped all eight shots he faced so far including on a couple of power plays made possible by U.S. penalties.

The U.S. last reached the final in 2010 when it lost to Canada in overtime on Sidney Crosby’s famous golden goal. Canada also awaits this time after rallying to beat Finland in the other semifinal when Nathan MacKinnon scored with 35.2 seconds left.

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

MILAN (AP) — Quinn and Jack Hughes watched in person as the U.S. women’s hockey team rallied to beat Canada in the gold medal game at the Olympics on Thursday night in an overtime thriller that showcased the face of the sport in Hilary Knight and her likely successor in that spot, Laila Edwards.

The Hughes brothers had a family stake in the matter. Their mom, Ellen, had a role in the women's championship as a player development consultant.

“Happy for her, happy for the whole team, everyone on the coaching staff," Quinn Hughes said. "You knew that game was going to be tough, but I think they deserved it.”

Players from either team have also gotten to know each other from hanging out in the athletes' village, Jack said, giving the men even more rooting interest.

“All of us, we were obviously really pumped up for them,” Jack Hughes said. "That was all about the girls, and we were super excited for them.”

J.T. Miller also took his daughter, Quinn Hughes said, and the rest of the men's team watched at the end of their hall in the treatment room in the village they share with the women. Megan Keller's OT goal was a cause for celebration.

“We were going nuts,” Dylan Larkin said. “It’s a pretty cool moment and great for them. For Megan Keller, that’s a great story: a Michigan girl, very proud for her. Great moment for USA Hockey.”

Coach Mike Sullivan opened his remarks following the team's game day skate by congratulating the women's team. There's also a staff connection: Assistant John Hynes worked with women's coach John Wroblewski at the U.S. National Team Development Program.

“We were talking about it last night; we were talking about it again this morning," Sullivan said. "It’s a great thrill. Those girls, what a terrific hockey team and they’ll be an inspiration for the next generation of girls growing up in the United States. ... We couldn’t be more proud of them.”

The U.S. women outscored opponents 33-2 on the way to gold. The also-unbeaten U.S. men face Slovakia in the semifinals on Friday night, and Sullivan hopes his team is inspired by what the women accomplished.

“Without a doubt," Sullivan said. "You look at how dominant they’ve been throughout the course of their tournament and before, that’s one of the best women’s teams I think I’ve seen. We certainly aspire to do the same on the men’s side.”

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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics