NETWORK, GAME OFFICIALS HELD UP THEIR END IN OLYMPICS MEN'S HOCKEY FINAL

 If there was ever a game that didn’t require TV play by play or analysis, Sunday’s gold medal game in men’s hockey was it. And, to its credit, NBC’s veteran crew of KENNY ALBERT, ED OLCZYK and BRIAN 

BOUCHER resisted talking too much.

From the outset, the U.S. and Canada gave us a clinic in 

non-stop action that clearly wasn’t for the faint of heart.

And, thankfully, the game officials (like NBC) let them

 play … without, for the most part, interfering. Gosh 

knows, there was enough high sticking, roughing, 

interference, boarding, hooking – you name it – to last a 

lifetime.

But NHL referees working the game, CHRIS ROONEY

and GORD DWYER, swallowed their whistles …which 

permitted an incredible pace of play … that also wasn’t 

encumbered by fighting (which isn’t allowed in the 

Winter Games, subject to a one-game suspension).

They called a hooking infraction against Canada’s JAKE 

GUENTZEL (Tampa Bay), the game’s first, late in the 

first period… that was a good call but why? … 

considering many of a more serious nature that were 

ignored.

No matter. No harm. 

This one belonged to the respective goaltenders, neither 

of whom was a popular choice coming in. Canada’s

 JORDAN BINNINGTON of the St. Louis Blues was 

great, USA’s CONNOR HELLEBUYCK of the 

Winnipeg Jets greater. 

“He’s the reason they won,” said Olczyk, a former NHL 

player and coach … without fear of contradiction.

En route to a 2-1 decision in overtime, Hellebuyck 

stopped several breakaways … and had to be at his 

absolute best in the second period when the Canadians 

outshot the Yanks 19-8 … and, as time was winding 

down, had a two-man advantage and couldn’t get the 

puck by him.

Then, with 6:34 remaining in regulation and the score 1-

1, the Florida Panthers’ seldom-used SAM BENNETT

 drew a four-minute penalty for high sticking JACK 

HUGHES of the Jersey Devils. To that point, the 

Canadians had long since gained the momentum and appeared ready to win their 11^th hockey gold. 

(A minute earlier the Boston Bruins’ CHARLIE 

McAVOY, standing in the U.S., goalmouth (with 

Hellebuyck down, having made another save among a 

whopping 41 in all) kept TOM WILSON of the 

Washington Capitals off the board.)

Again the 6-4 Hellebuyck stood tall, setting the stage for 

a final failed Canadian power play courtesy of high 

sticking by Hughes who ran the gamut in this one … 

going from potential goat to game hero.

“I kind of felt, the way it was going, if they (Americans) 

can just get to overtime,” Olczyk said. “It should have 

been over with five or six minutes left in the third 

period.”

MATT BOLDY, a late addition from the Minnesota 

Wild, cut between defensemen CALE MAKAR and

 DEVON TOEWS of the Colorado Avalanche, to put the 

Americans ahead 1-0 and cap a dominant first period,

From there, however, the Canadians had a 33-18 bulge in 

shots over the next 40 minutes. Makar got the goal back 

14 minutes into the second period ... despite what Olczyk 

insisted should have been nullified because of 

interference by Toews.

(We should note here that, despite the fact all of NBC’s 

yappers were born in the USA and, unquestionably, had a 

rooting interest in the outcome, they tried not to let it 

show. 

While Olczyk could be accused of bias, belaboring the 

interference non-call although replay wasn’t conclusive 

(to these old eyes anyway), he also was quick to mention 

when the Americans were playing with seven 

skaters, two more than regulation, without being 

penalized.) 

Ironically, it was exactly 46 years to the date (Feb. 22, 

1980) that the Americans beat the heavily-favored 

Russians in the Miracle on Ice game en route to their 

second Olympic hockey gold.

MIKE ERUZIONE, captain of the 1980 team, was a 

featured guest on NBC Sunday and, prior to the opening 

faceoff, said, “This is the best U.S., team of all-time … 

We’re going to win today.”

LET THE celebration begin.

With 1:41 gone in OT, Hughes scored the golden goal … 

shortly after Binnington made a game-saving deflection 

of a heavy shot by older brother QUINN HUGHES of 

the Vancouver Canucks.

CONNOR McDAVID (Edmonton Oilers) attempted to 

muscle his way in but his shot was blocked before it 

could get to Hellebuyck. Makar lunged for the puck and 

missed.

“It looked like the Canadians were going to have a two-

on-none,” said Boucher, a former NHL goalie, “… and, 

all of a sudden, the Americans had a 3 on 1, going the 

other way.”

Defenseman ZACH WERENSKI (Columbus Blue 

Jackets) fed Hughes, alone in the circle to Binnington’s 

right, and he ripped a shot between the goalie’s legs for 

his fourth goal of the tournament … and served as a 

measure of revenge, as well, for losing one, possibly two, 

front teeth earlier … courtesy of Bennett’s high stick.

WAS THERE a more unlikely hero than J.Hughes at the 

Milan-Cortina Winter Games? Probably not.

A center, he had been limited to 62 games each of the past 

two seasons because of shoulder problems. A freak hand 

injury suffered at a team dinner sidelined Hughes after 17 

games this season.

The Devils’ top choice in the 2019 NHL draft, he 

underwent surgery that forced Hughes to miss 18 games 

… returning to the lineup in late December, 2025 (about a 

month earlier than expected). He also fell out of favor 

with the fans for what were described as some 

“unfortunate remarks” via the media that apparently 

didn’t reflect favorably on teammates.

Wanna bet all is forgiven now?

USA coach MIKE SULLIVAN of the New York Rangers 

had Hughes on the little-used fourth line before moving 

him to the third line with the Red Wings’ DYLAN 

LARKIN and the Sabres’ too-tall TAGE THOMPSON. 

Hughes finished with seven points in six games (second 

only to Q. Hughes’ eight points) for the Americans … and 

he played only 13 minutes in the final.

“Unbelievable,” Boucher said, “Unbelievable.”

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Once again, as always it seems, network coverage of ice 

hockey was reduced from great to just OK by giving 

frustrated viewers some nothing shot of a coach or bench 

while we know something extracurricular has everyone 

else’s attention on the ice.

At least NBC didn’t bore us (too much) with canned 

player features that told us stuff we already knew.

USA was perfect 18 for 18 killing penalties … 3 for 3 in 

the final against high-powered Canadians that featured 

McDavid, Colorado’s NATHAN McKINNON who was 

criticized for saying what just about everyone thought: 

“The better team didn’t win today.” … and 19 year old 

wunderkind MACKLIN CELEBRINI of the San Jose 

Sharks.

McDavid was voted hockey’s Olympic MVP. Over 

Hellebuyck? GET SERIOUS!!

Until next time ...