The stage is set for the ultimate showdown in international sports. Today, Thursday, February 19, 2026, Team Canada and Team USA will face off in the women’s ice hockey gold medal game at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Puck drop is scheduled for exactly 1:10 p.m. ET at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. If you are a hockey fan, you simply cannot afford to miss this clash of the titans.
TV Channels, Streaming Options, and Regional Blackouts Explained
For viewers in Canada, you can catch the game live on CBC television or stream it digitally through CBC Gem and the official CBC Sports website. If you are tuning in from the United States, the game will be broadcast on the USA Network. American cord-cutters can stream the matchup live on Peacock or via NBCOlympics.com.
You might be wondering about regional blackouts. Typically, blackouts occur during the regular hockey season to protect local broadcast rights, forcing local fans to watch on a specific regional sports network. However, for the Olympics, national broadcasters (CBC in Canada and NBCUniversal in the US) hold exclusive blanket rights. This means you won’t have to worry about traditional in-market blackouts. Just keep in mind that geo-restrictions apply; you must be within your respective country’s borders (or using a domestic IP) to access CBC Gem or Peacock.
Team Records, Leading Scorers, and My Gold Medal Game Prediction
Historically, Team Canada has dominated the Olympic podium with an incredible five gold medals and two silver medals. Team USA, meanwhile, holds two gold medals, four silvers, and one bronze. Both programs have seven total Olympic medals. When it comes to all-time leading Olympic scorers, Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin just broke the all-time women’s record this week, netting her 19th and 20th career Olympic goals to pass Hayley Wickenheiser. For the Americans, captain Hilary Knight leads her nation with 15 career Olympic goals.
Coming into this game, injuries and momentum are huge factors. Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin missed two earlier games with a knee injury but has looked fantastic since returning. The Americans are riding a legendary defensive wave; goaltender Aerin Frankel has anchored an ongoing 331-minute Olympic shutout streak. In fact, Team USA crushed Team Canada 5-0 in the preliminary round and just beat Sweden 5-0 in the semifinals, while Canada edged out Switzerland 2-1.
Personally, I think this gold medal game will look vastly different than the group stage blowout. While Canada has the edge in historical gold medal wins, the Americans have been an absolute unstoppable wagon in Italy, outscoring opponents 31-1. I predict a fiercely contested, low-scoring affair where Team USA ultimately edges out Team Canada 2-1 in overtime to reclaim Olympic glory.
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