Welcome to your premier source for the latest NHL news on February 21, 2026! While the NHL regular season remains paused for the Winter Games in Milano Cortina, the brightest stars of the National Hockey League are putting on an absolute clinic on the international stage. If you missed the pulse-pounding Olympic hockey action from February 20, you missed hockey history being written.
In a script straight out of Hollywood, Team USA and Team Canada both won their semifinal matchups, setting up the most highly anticipated gold medal clash since the legendary 2010 Vancouver Games. Here is your complete breakdown of the scores and standout NHL player performances.
Olympic Hockey Scores: February 20, 2026 Recap
Team USA 6 – Team Slovakia 2
Team USA punched their ticket to the finals with a dominant 6-2 victory over Slovakia. The Americans came out flying, suffocating the Slovakian defense from the opening puck drop. Jack Hughes took over the second period, dazzling the crowd with his elite edge-work and netting two spectacular goals in a span of minutes. Dylan Larkin got the scoring started early, while Tage Thompson, Jack Eichel, and Brady Tkachuk added to the absolute onslaught.
The United States built an insurmountable 5-0 lead by the end of the second period, proving their depth and speed are a nightmare for any opponent.
Team Canada 3 – Team Finland 2
The Canadians had a much steeper hill to climb, providing a massive, heart-stopping piece of today’s top NHL news. Down 2-0 early in the second period after goals by Mikko Rantanen and a shorthanded stunner by Erik Haula, Canada engineered a breathtaking comeback against a stingy Finnish defense anchored by Juuse Saros.
Sam Reinhart sparked the rally with a power-play tally, followed by a Shea Theodore rocket that tied the game 2-2 in the third period. Juuse Saros was spectacular, stopping 36 shots, but the relentless pressure from Canada’s top lines eventually broke the dam. With overtime looming, Nathan MacKinnon became the hero, burying the game-winner with just 35.2 seconds remaining in regulation! Connor McDavid tallied two assists in the game, officially setting the record for the most points (13) in a single Olympics featuring NHL players.
Olympic Hockey Notes & Injury Updates
- Sidney Crosby’s Status: The Canadian captain missed Friday’s semifinal against Finland with a lower-body injury. However, head coach Jon Cooper noted that Crosby skated on Saturday and has a “better chance” of suiting up for the Gold Medal game on Sunday.
- The Bronze Battle: Finland and Slovakia will battle it out for the Bronze medal on Saturday. Montreal Canadiens rising star Juraj Slafkovsky will look to lead his squad to the podium, while Sebastian Aho and the Finns try to salvage some hardware.
- Historic Rematch: The USA vs. Canada Gold Medal matchup is essentially a rematch of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship, where Canada edged the USA 3-2 in overtime. Expect a fierce, physical battle between goaltenders Connor Hellebuyck and Jordan Binnington.
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The post NHL News: Team USA & Canada Set for Epic 2026 Olympic Gold Clash appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
