The USA-Canada Olympic gold medal game was a historic moment for NBC, attracting an unprecedented audience. Team USA's 2-1 overtime victory against Team Canada in the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games on Sunday became the most-watched sporting event with a pre-9 a.m. ET start time in the United States. The game's average live audience of 18.6 million viewers on NBC and Peacock was a remarkable feat, making it NBC Sports' second-most watched hockey game ever. The peak audience of 26.0 million live viewers between 10:45 and 11 a.m. ET, during Jack Hughes' game-winning goal, was a testament to the excitement and historical significance of the moment. The Milano Cortina games marked the return of NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Games, and Team USA's victory secured its first men's ice hockey gold medal since 1980 and its first best-on-best tournament win since the 1996 World Cup of Hockey. This historic win not only showcased the talent of American athletes but also reignited the passion for ice hockey in the nation.
