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MILAN (AP) β€” The United States is on top of the hockey world for the first time in nearly a half-century. No miracle needed.

Jack Hughes scored less than 2 minutes into overtime and the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in the gold medal final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Sunday, earning the nation’s third men’s title at the Games and its first since the β€œMiracle on Ice” in 1980 β€” 46 years to the day of the upset over the mighty Soviet Union, too.

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Unlike that ragtag group of college kids that pulled off one of the biggest shockers in sports history in Lake Placid, the Americans in Milan were a machine that rode goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and a roster full of NHL players through the tournament unbeaten.

Still, they were underdogs again against the stacked Canadians and came out on top β€” again.

β€œThis is all about our country right now,” said Hughes, who lost at least one and maybe two of his front teeth taking a high stick during the game. β€œI love the U.S.A. I love my teammates. It’s unbelievable.

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