2026 Olympic Games: Canada and archrival U.S. scoreless in 1st period of gold-medal men's hockey game

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Team Canada fans take over Milan blues bar

The crowd was roaring at the puck drop. The atmosphere is electric, tense and LOUD. Seats are packed with Canadian and American flags everywhere. 

The puck has dropped. Here we go.

The decision to not play in today's gold-medal final came down to Sidney Crosby himself, according to Canadian general manager Doug Armstrong.

"It's obviously a very gut-wrenching decision for him, but it shows the character he has of stepping aside because he didn't think he could be at his best to give him an opportunity."

Armstrong said the Canadian staff was there to support, but Crosby knows his body best, and knows what he can and can't do right now.

"He's meant so much to everybody throughout the years," the GM said. "It's a very difficult decision, but [I'm] very honoured and proud to have worked with him in this event and what he's done for us to put us in this spot today."

One of the owners of the Blues Canal bar, Frank, just gave a heartfelt speech to the Canadian fans who have filled the place throughout these games. 

"I love you guys. I'm so grateful. Thank you so much from me, from Milan. This day will remain in our hearts forever. Go Canada!" he told the crowd. 

Frank is decked out in Canada sweater, Canada pins and a Montreal Expos hat gifted to him by the fans who have patronized his bar.  

Frank has never been to Canada — and says that before the Olympics, barely knew about hockey. 

Connor McDavid's parents are in the crowd. They had coffee with him yesterday and his mother Kelly says it was the most relaxed she'd seen him since they arrived in Milan. 

McDavid's father Brian said his son was 13 when Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal at the 2010 Vancouver Games and had watched that game with his teammates at the time. 

"Sid was his idol," Brian McDavid said. 

"Here we are today and it's unfortunate Sid's not playing and [Connor] gets to be the captain, but you can't put that into words. It's just been an amazing, amazing experience."

Connor McDavid said yesterday he was just borrowing Crosby's seat as captain. 

"I'd say we're feeling just like everybody else: pins and needles, excited, optimistic, anxious, nervous," his father said. "Let's go Canada!" 

"There was real optimism yesterday that he was going to be able to play," Friedman said.

But the decision came down to Crosby himself, who didn't want to dress as a cheerleader. For him to dress, another player would have to sit.

"Ultimately, Crosby decided that he was not going to be effective enough to take the spot of a healthy other forward, and I think he had a huge amount of influence in making the call not to play today," Friedman said.

"Total bummer but this is why he's the selfless leader. Their key motivation has been this won't be Sid's last game in a Canada uniform."

A win today will give Canadian captain Sidney Crosby and defenceman Drew Doughty three consecutive Olympic gold medals. They won in 2010 and 2014.

Five Canadian players can also join what they call the "Triple Gold Club" with a win today. That's an Olympic gold medal, a world championship, and a Stanley Cup. (Crosby is already a member.)

They are forwards Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone, and goaltender Darcy Kuemper.

The line grows longer out the door at the Blues Canal bar in Milan, where market day has met its match with this epic game between Canada and the U.S. 

You can overhear people speaking Italian, a little bit confused about the crowd, and realizing it's the Canadians here to watch hockey. 

In the spirit of camaraderie, a couple of Canadian fans have brought beer for those waiting at the end of the line. 

The Associated Press

Germany got another gold and silver to cap the bobsleigh competition.

Pilot Johannes Lochner and his crew won gold with 3:37.57, while teammate Francesco Friedrich won silver in the four-man event. 

But Switzerland's Michael Vogt grabbed the bronze, overtaking Adam Ammour on the fourth run to deny Germany a medal sweep.

Lochner won in what he says is his final race before retirement. Friedrich got his sixth Olympic medal: two golds in 2018, two more golds in 2022 and two silvers this year.

Lochner became the seventh pilot to sweep both men's bobsled events in an Olympics.

Canada's Taylor Austin, with Keaton Bruggeling, Mike Evelyn and Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, came in 14th in 3:40.29.

Canadians Jay Dearborn, Luka Stoikos, Yohan Eskrick-Parkinson and Mark Zanette came 20th with 3:41.16. 

Here's how the Americans will line up for today's game:

Forward: 

Brady Tkachuk - Jack Eichel - Matthew Tkachuk

Jake Guentzel - Auston Matthews - Matt Boldy

Jack Hughes - Dylan Larkin - Tage Thompson

J.T. Miller - Brock Nelson - Vincent Trocheck

Clayton Keller

Defence:

Quinn Hughes - Charlie McAvoy

Jaccob Slavin - Brock Faber

Zach Werenski - Jake Sanderson

Noah Hanifin

Goaltender: 

Connor Hellebuyck

Jake Oettinger

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