Jack Hughes Photo of Lost Teeth Goes Viral After USA Star Scores GW Goal for Gold Medal in Olympics

New Jersey Devils star forward Jack Hughes was the talk of social media Sunday after scoring the game-winning, overtime goal for Team USA against Canada in the men's hockey gold medal game at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

Hughes took a high-stick to the face from Florida Panthers and Team Canada forward Sam Bennett in the third period, resulting in some lost and chipped teeth, but he played through it and received a ton of praise and attention on X:

The 24-year-old center scored 1:41 into OT off a feed from Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski to give the U.S. its first Olympic gold medal in men's hockey since 1980.

Originally selected first overall by the Devils in the 2019 NHL draft, Hughes is a three-time NHL All-Star, and he entered this season having recorded 70 or more points in three consecutive campaigns.

A finger injury has limited Hughes to 36 NHL games so far this season, but he is averaging a point per game, and he healed in plenty of time to represent Team USA in Milan, Italy.

Hughes showcased a ton of grit and determination in shaking off the finger injury and performing at a high level for the Devils, and he did it again Sunday after taking a high-stick that may have knocked a player out of the game under different circumstances.

The speedy and skilled forward would not be denied, and the wide-open, 3-on-3 overtime undoubtedly played to his strengths.

Hughes was right where he needed to be when Werenski won a puck battle along the boards before sending a perfect pass to a wide-open Hughes for the win.

Scoring one of the biggest goals in USA hockey history under those circumstances was special in its own right, but the fact that he got to celebrate it with his brother, Minnesota Wild and Team USA defenseman Quinn Hughes, unquestionably made it even more significant.