As the hockey world catches its collective breath, the latest NHL news is dominated by the spectacular conclusion of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. With the NHL scheduled to resume regular-season action this week, front offices are making their final roster tweaks, but all eyes are still lingering on yesterday’s unforgettable international finale.
If you are looking for NHL scores, the league is currently on its second last day of the Olympic pause. However, February 22, 2026, delivered a historic slate of Olympic hockey scores and notes that will be talked about for generations.
Epic 2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey Recap: USA Stuns Canada
Exactly 46 years to the day after the legendary “Miracle on Ice,” Team USA has captured its first men’s Olympic hockey gold medal since 1980. The Americans defeated Team Canada 2-1 in a heart-stopping overtime thriller on Sunday, February 22.
The hero of the hour was New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes, who scored the golden goal at 1:41 of overtime. Following a brilliant defensive strip by Zach Werenski on Nathan MacKinnon, Hughes took a cross-ice pass and fired a pristine wrist shot past Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington. Hughes achieved this legendary status despite losing several teeth to a high stick earlier in the game.
Matt Boldy opened the scoring for Team USA just 6:00 into the first period, netting the fastest opening goal in a gold medal game during the NHL participation era. Canada, playing without an injured Sidney Crosby, clawed back late in the second period when Cale Makar picked the far corner to tie the game at 1-1.
However, the true MVP for the Americans was goaltender Connor Hellebuyck. Turning away 41 of 42 shots, Hellebuyck weathered a vicious Canadian storm—especially during a second period where Canada outshot the U.S. 19-8. His heroic performance secured American hockey immortality.
In other Olympic action, Finland routed Slovakia 6-1 on Saturday to claim the bronze medal, rounding out an incredible tournament.
2026 Winter Olympics: Top 20 Men’s Scorers
| Rank | Player | G | A | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connor McDavid | 2 | 11 | 13 |
| 2 | Macklin Celebrini | 5 | 5 | 10 |
| 3 | Lucas Raymond | 1 | 8 | 9 |
| 4 | Quinn Hughes | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| 5 | Jack Hughes | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | Nathan MacKinnon | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 7 | Sebastian Aho | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 8 | Tim Stützle | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 9 | Cale Makar | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| 10 | Zach Werenski | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| 11 | Juraj Slafkovsky | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 12 | Nick Olesen | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| 13 | Auston Matthews | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 14 | Mikko Rantanen | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 15 | Matthew Tkachuk | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 16 | Elias Pettersson | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 17 | William Nylander | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 18 | Leon Draisaitl | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 19 | Nico Hischier | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | Matt Boldy | 2 | 2 | 4 |
Today’s Top NHL News & Roster Moves
With the NHL regular season roaring back to life on Wednesday, teams are making essential roster adjustments. Here is the latest NHL news from the waiver wire and front offices today, February 23, 2026:
- Washington Capitals: The Caps activated goaltender Charlie Lindgren from Injured Reserve and loaned 23-year-old netminder Garin Bjorklund to the AHL’s Hershey Bears.
- Detroit Red Wings: Operating under emergency conditions, the Red Wings recalled forwards Dominik Shine and Sheldon Dries from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
- Nashville Predators: Nashville fortified its depth by signing forward Jake Lucchini to a one-year, two-way contract worth $850,000 at the NHL level for the 2026-27 season.
Finding the Latest NHL News, NHL Trade Rumors, & Fantasy Hockey Predictions
As the dust settles on an incredible Olympic tournament, the push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs begins now! If you want to stay ahead of the curve on the latest NHL news, breaking NHL trade rumors ahead of the deadline, and expert fantasy hockey predictions to help you win your league, you need the right inside sources. Make sure to add nhltraderumor.com to your bookmarks right now. We track the movement, the money, and the momentum of every franchise so you never miss a beat. Stay connected and sign up for our newsletter below!
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