Most North Americans from coast to coast will share the same opinion: they want to see Canada and the USA meet in the men’s hockey final of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Waiting to see if that desire comes to fruition gives us time to reflect.
The Americans and Canadians survived scares from lower seeds in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, so that potential gold medal matchup on Sunday remains a possibility.
Despite a couple of heartbreaking moments going against Team USA, the Red, White and Blue have acquitted themselves admirably throughout the years against Canada. Here’s a look at the United States’ top five best-on-best outings against its most bitter hockey rival.
Top 5 Team USA men’s hockey performances against Canada
5. Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 final (3-2 overtime loss)
After beating Canada in the preliminary round, expectations were sky high entering the gold medal game against Canada.
Team USA went toe-to-toe with its biggest hockey rivals, taking the game to overtime thanks to a Zach Parise equalizer with just under 25 seconds remaining in the third period.
While it will always be remembered for Sidney Crosby’s Golden Goal, Team USA, aside from one moment etched permanently in time, was every bit Canada’s equal.
4. 4 Nations Face-Off final (3-2 overtime loss)
While it goes down as another heartbreaking loss, Team USA was the better side in the 4 Nations Face-Off final.
Stymied by a clutch Canadian goalie, Jordan Binnington, Team USA had a 2-1 lead and outshot Canada 33-27. The United States also had more hits (28-25) and dominated territorially for large portions of the game.
Unfortunately, another generational talent inflicted the final blow, with Connor McDavid scoring the winning goal in overtime.
3. Vancouver Winter Olympics 2010 preliminary round (5-3 win)
Ryan Miller backstopped Team USA to a 5-3 win in the preliminary round of the 2010 Winter Olympics, making 42 saves in the demonstrative performance.
With the United States wearing throwback jerseys they had on at the 1960 Games – the previous time they beat Canada at the Olympics – Brian Rafalski led the offensive charge, scoring two goals.
Ryan Kesler, Chris Drury and Jamie Langenbrunner rounded out the scoring in the historic victory.
2. 4 Nations Face-Off round-robin (3-1 win)
Not only was it the irrefutable best start to an international hockey game, but Team USA secured the impressive 3-1 round-robin victory.
Three fights in nine seconds headlined the physically charged affair, reinforcing what everyone already knew: there is no love lost between these great hockey nations.
After the dust settled on the donnybrooks, Team USA played one of its best defensive games, holding Canada to a single goal on a moment of brilliance from McDavid. Jake Guentzel scored twice, and Dylan Larkin netted the other.
1. 1996 World Cup of Hockey final, Game 3 (5-2 win)
Nothing holds a candle to Team USA’s first best-on-best series win over Canada. In an epic best-of-three final at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, Team USA won the decider 5-2.
Down 2-1 with 3:18 remaining, Brett Hull scored the equalizer, turning the tide for the Americans. Tony Amonte scored the game-winning goal less than a minute later, with Derian Hatcher firing into an empty net to put the series to bed.