Quinn Hughes breaks U.S. men’s Olympics point-streak record among NHLers

During the gold medal game at the 2026 Olympic Games, Team USA defenseman Quinn Hughes made history when he broke the record for the longest point streak by an American in the tournament during the NHL participation era.

Hughes recorded the secondary assist, his seventh helper of the tournament, on Matt Boldy’s ice-breaking goal that gave Team USA a 1-0 lead in the first period of the gold medal game against Team Canada.

Auston Matthews tallied the primary assist, as Boldy juggled through Canadian defensemen Devon Toews and Cale Makar before sliding the puck past goalie Jordan Binnington for a jaw-dropping opening goal.

The assist was Hughes’ seventh of the tournament, giving him eight points as he handles big minutes as Team USA’s top defenseman. Hughes’ signature Olympic moment came in the quarterfinal round, where he buried a goal in the 3-on-3 overtime period to secure a berth in the semifinal, where the Americans handled the upstart Slovakians with relative ease.

The Florida native was not available for the Americans during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where they fell to the Canadians in the championship game. His presence has brought noticeably more mobility and offensive firepower to a USA backend that is stacked with talent.

Hughes, who was traded from Vancouver to Minnesota earlier in the NHL season, is having another phenomenal offensive season. Through 52 games played, he’s racked up 5 goals and 52 assists for 57 points.

The Americans held a 1-0 lead over the Canadians through the first 20 minutes of the game. Team USA is looking to earn its first gold medal in the men’s hockey tournament since the Miracle on Ice team in 1980.

Team Canada has won each of the past two Olympic tournaments in which NHL players have participated, upending the Americans in Vancouver in 2010 and the Swedes in Sochi in 2014.