With the tournament coming to an end, both Team USA and Canada are undefeated and ready for the final showdown. Team USA had a dominant performance in the preliminary round, winning all of its matches, including a 4-0 shutout of Switzerland in the quarterfinals and a 7-2 victory over Slovakia in the semifinals. Canada also swept through Group B, defeating Latvia 4-0 in the quarterfinals and narrowly escaping Sweden with a 5-4 win in the semifinal contest.
Team USA has a storied history in gold medal games, having won 11 out of their 16 appearances. In 2023, they beat Sweden 3-2 in overtime to claim the top spot on the podium. They have won back-to-back gold medals on five previous occasions, most recently in 2014 and 2015. This will be their chance to continue their dominance and add another championship to their collection.
The United States and Canada have only met twice before in the gold medal game, with Team USA emerging victorious with a 5-1 win in 2005. Canada responded with a hard-fought 3-2 victory in 2013. Their most recent matchup was during the preliminary round of this tournament, where Team USA secured an impressive 8-3 win. This final game promises to be an exciting battle between two of the best teams in the world, with both looking to come out on top and secure their place atop the podium.