Jack Hughes' golden goal at the Olympics for the US explained

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 play 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 same 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.”

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

Canada goalkeeper Jordan Binnington looks back at the net as a shot by United States' Jack Hughes gets past for the winning goal in the overtime period of the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

United States' Jack Hughes (86) scores the game-winning goal against Canada's Connor McDavid (97) and Jordan Binnington (50) in overtime 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. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

United States' Jack Hughes (86) takes a shot to score the winning goal in sudden death overtime against Canada during the men's ice hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States' Jack Hughes (86) scores the game winning goal against Canada's Connor McDavid (97) and Jordan Binnington (50) in overtime 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. (Bruce Bennett/Pool Photo via AP)

United States' Jack Hughes (86) scores 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)

FRIBOURG, Switzerland (AP) — Canada beat Slovenia 3-1 to make it five wins from five games at the ice hockey world championship on Friday.

Emmitt Finnie led with a goal and an assist and Denton Mateychuk and Dylan Cozens also scored. Jet Greaves stopped 13 shots as Canada outshot Slovenia 32-14.

Mateychuk, playing in his first worlds, skated to the top of the left circle before shooting past Slovenia goaltender Zan Us at 11:07 in the opening period.

Cozens added the second from the slot with 6:46 remaining in the middle period for his third goal in Switzerland. Sidney Crosby bagged his sixth assist at the tournament.

Finnie made it 3-0 by deflecting in a shot by Morgan Rielly from the blue line in the final period.

Rozle Bohinc scored a consolation goal for Slovenia with 1:05 left.

Canada tops Group B in Fribourg with Slovakia trailing by three points. The teams meet on Sunday.

Canada has won four games in regulation and one in overtime.

In a Group A in Zurich, Germany downed Hungary 6-2 for its first victory at the worlds after four defeats. Leon Gawanke sparked the Germans with a hat trick.

Later Friday, Finland played Britain in Zurich and Sweden faced Italy in Fribourg.

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Canada's Sidney Crosby, left, vies for the puck against Slovenia's Miha Bericic, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, left, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, right, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Dylan Cozens, second right, celebrates his goal with his teammates Canada's Canada's Macklin Celebrini, left, Sidney Crosby, left, and Canada's Denton Mateychuk, right, centre, after scoring during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us, left, concedes his second goal past Slovenia's Blaz Gregorc, right, and Canada's Sidney Crosby, center, during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)

Canada's Emmitt Finnie, right, clashes against Slovenia's goaltender Zan Us during a preliminary round game between Canada and Slovenia at the men's ice hockey world championship in Fribourg, Switzerland, Friday May 22, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)