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)

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, alleging that many people there are sick and not receiving care, even though both of the U.S. Navy’s hospital ships are currently docked at a shipyard in Alabama.

Trump’s announcement prompted a defense on Sunday of Denmark and Greenland’s health care system from their leaders, and it was the latest point of friction with the American leader who has frequently talked about seizing the massive Arctic territory.

“It’s a no thank you from here," said Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen.

Trump's social media post about a hospital ship came after Denmark's military said its arctic command forces on Saturday evacuated a crew member of a U.S. submarine off the coast of Greenland for urgent medical treatment.

The Danish Joint Arctic Command, on its Facebook page, said the crew member was evacuated some 7 nautical miles (8 miles; 13 kilometers) off Nuuk — the capital of the vast, ice-covered territory — and transferred to a hospital in the city. The crew member was retrieved by a Danish Seahawk helicopter that had been deployed on an inspection ship.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday night, referred to his special envoy for Greenland and said, “Working with the fantastic Governor of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, we are going to send a great hospital boat to Greenland to take care of the many people who are sick, and not being taken care of there. It’s on the way!!!”

Nielsen said it wasn't necessary.

“We have a public health care system where treatment is free for citizens. That is a deliberate choice — and a fundamental part of our society,” Nielsen said. "That is not how it works in the USA, where it costs money to see a doctor.”

He added, in a note of exasperation, that Greenland is always open to dialogue and cooperation. “But please talk to us instead of just making more or less random statements on social media," he said.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, speaking to public broadcaster DR, said Danish authorities had not been informed that the U.S. ship was on its way.

The Pentagon referred questions about the status of the U.S. Navy’s two hospital ships, the USNS Mercy and USNS Comfort, to the White House. The White House did not immediately respond to repeated requests for more information.

Both ships are currently at a shipyard in Mobile, Ala., according to social media posts from the shipyard, which also posted photos of them next to each other.

When asked about the status of the ships and the president’s post, the Navy referred questions to the White House.

The historically strong bilateral ties after World War II between NATO allies Denmark and the United States have come under severe strain in recent months as Trump ratcheted up talk of a possible U.S. takeover of the mineral-rich and strategically located Arctic island.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen defended Denmark’s health care system on Sunday, writing on Facebook that she was “happy to live in a country where there is free and equal access to health for all. Where it’s not insurances and wealth that determine whether you get proper treatment.”

“You have the same approach in Greenland,” she said, before adding: “Happy Sunday to you all" in front of a blushing, smiling emoji.

Aaja Chemnitz, one of the two Greenlandic politicians in the Danish parliament, wrote on Facebook that "Donald Trump wants to send a poorly maintained hospital ship to Greenland. It seems rather desperate and does not contribute to the permanent and sustainable strengthening of the health care system that we need."

“Another day. Another crazy news story,” she wrote in front of a smiley face emoji.

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this story.

FILE - Houses are seen near the coast of a sea inlet of Nuuk, Greenland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File)

Northern Lights over the Church of Our Saviour in Nuuk, Greenland, Saturday Feb. 21, 2026. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via AP)