Olympic men’s gold medal game predictions by NHL.com staff

MILAN -- It all comes down to this.

The United States and Canada will play for the gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Sunday (8:10 a.m. ET; Peacock, NBC, ICI Tele, CBC Gem, CBC, SN [JIP], TSN [JIP], RDS2).

It will be the sixth time the two hockey superpowers will meet at an Olympics with NHL players, Canada holding a 4-1 lead.

Who will bring the gold home from Italy?

The eight editors and writers from NHL.com and NHL.com/International here reveal their predictions:

Andrew Ardini, Director of Production, NHL.com International

Prediction: Canada 3, United States 1
Why: I predicted Canada way back when the tournament started, so let’s stick with it. Canada gets what seemingly no one can lately -- an empty-net goal to clinch the gold.

JF Chaumont, LNH.com senior writer

Prediction: Canada 3, United States 1
Why: Defense wins championships, but not a gold medal at the Olympics. Connor McDavid is the best player in the world, and he will guide Canada to the promised land.

Nicholas J. Cotsonika, Columnist, NHL.com

Prediction: Canada 3, United States 2
Why: The U.S. can win. The margins are thin. But the U.S. hasn’t defeated Canada when it has mattered in a best-on-best tournament since 1996, and Canada has won four straight best-on-best tournaments. The Canadians get the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise.

Matt Cubeta, VP & Editor in Chief, NHL.com International

Prediction: Canada 4, United States 3
Why: The fans get a thrilling back-and-forth game with none other than Macklin Celebrini delivering the game-winning goal late in the third period to help Canada claim gold.

Eric Marin, Director, Editorial, NHL.com International

Prediction: United States 4, Canada 2
Why: Canada got up off the mat against Czechia and Finland, but its resilience runs out in the rematch of the 4 Nations championship game. The Americans have only gotten better during the tournament and are peaking at the right time to capture their first gold since the 1980 Miracle on Ice.

Bill Price, VP, Editor-in-Chief, NHL.com

Prediction: United States 5, Canada 4 (OT)
Why: Nine goals. Overtime. Would you expect anything else? The Americans have been saying for months this is their time and they finally prove it, but it won’t be easy.

Shawn P. Roarke, senior director of editorial

Prediction: United States 3, Canada 2
Why: Canada’s dominance in best-on-best hockey has to end at some point. The Americans have the team to do it. Like Connor Hellebuyck said after the 6-2 dismantling of Slovakia, the Americans are stout in every part of their game. They are peaking and they are healthy. It’s their time.

Dan Rosen, senior writer

Prediction: United States 3, Canada 1
Why: The U.S. will control the game on the blue line, find enough speed in transition to score a couple goals, be disciplined enough to not let Canada take over the game on the power play, and get a big-time performance from Hellebuyck to finally take over as international hockey's No. 1 superpower.