Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

My brain has been so poisoned by Premier League discourse, that whenever the fans chant "Ca-Na-Da", I think they are saying "VAR".

We do have a video review system today, by the way, in case of contentious calls.

Ohhhh that would have been such a nice team goal!

Connor McDavid surges after a loose puck, leaving an American defender in his wake, and pulls it back for Nathan MacKinnon, who passes it first-time towards Macklin Celebrini.

However, the puck is cut out in the nick of time by a back-tracking USA defender.

Under five minutes remaining in the first period.

Canada are attacking in waves but haven't troubled Connor Hellebuyck for a while.

USA get a rare opportunity at the other end but Matthew Tkachuk opts against the one-timer, instead playing the puck across the goal but there's no one there. That was a golden opportunity to double USA's lead.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

An Olympic factoid: the boards around the rink had to be changed midway through the Games to make the colours lighter.

The previous darker colours made it too difficult for the goalkeepers to keep track of the puck.

Image source, Reuters

Wasteful from Canada.

Brad Marchand does brilliantly to hold onto the puck with three USA players around him and plays it across to Nathan MacKinnon.

With a couple of players ahead of him, MacKinnon opts to play it back to Marchand but he can't control the puck and Matt Boldy - who else? - clears for USA.

I'm not sure Marchand was the best option there. I'd have liked to have seen MacKinnon get the shot away and create some traffic around the USA goal.

The fizz has gone out of Canada a little since Matt Boldy's opener for USA.

Boldy gets another shot away, taking aim from distance. The puck takes a deflection but Jordan Binnington safely pouches it.

11:27 to go in the first period.

Quite right, Emma. Canada are no strangers to coming from behind. They were 2-1 and 3-2 down against Czech Republic in the last eight and 2-0 down against Finland in the semi-finals.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

Image source, EPA

That opener came from USA's first registered shot of the match.

As they did in their semi-final, Canada will have to come from behind.

Image source, Reuters

Completely against the run of play!

Matt Boldy picked up the puck inside his own half, chipped it over two defenders and out-muscled them to collect it before nudging it around a stranded Jordan Binnington.

An incredible solo goal! USA lead 1-0.

USA netminder Connor Hellebuyck has been equal to everything Canada have thrown at him in the opening five minutes, coming up with three saves, but he was a little iffy on the puck then.

He went to retrieve it from behind his goal but nearly hands possession straight to Canada as he leaves the puck for his defender to sweep up.

A few phases later, USA's Dylan Larkin is clattered into the boards. After a few moments to collect himself, he's back on his feet.

That was smooth from Canada and Sam Bennett gets another shot away.

It all started with Connor McDavid jinking down the right wing. The puck is quickly moved to Thomas Harley and then Macklin Celebrini before he plays in Bennett.

His shot pings off Connor Hellebuyck's helmet.

Image source, Getty Images

There you are, Emma (@13.11). You only had to wait around two minutes for your first fight. A little coming together in front of the USA goal.

USA came out firing on all cylinders for the opening 90 seconds. They had Canada trapped in their own third and netminder Jordan Binnington was on his toes.

However, it's Connor Hellebuyck who has to make the first meaningful save of the final, stopping a shot from Sam Bennett.

It's been a physical start.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

Nine seconds in, and we haven't had a single fight.

Underwhelming.

Image source, Getty Images

The gold medal match is under way. Canada are in red, USA in white and blue.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

This feels like a game being played in Montreal or Vancouver.

There are a lot more Canadian fans here than Americans, and while the Canada team in red were loudly cheered onto the ice, the white-clad USA squad were roundly booed.

It seems like most neutrals here are backing the Canadians.

It's nearly time for play to get under way in Milan.

It's 46 years to the day since USA's Miracle on Ice. Canada are going for a record 10th Olympic men's ice hockey gold medal.

Who will win the final gold of the 2026 Winter Olympics? Thumbs up for Canada. Thumbs down for USA.

BBC Two

You can watch the final medal event of the 2026 Winter Olympics live on BBC Two.

You can also follow the action on BBC iPlayer and via the 'watch live' button at the top of this page.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena

The Canadians are without captain Sidney Crosby, which is a major blow for them.

The 38-year-old, a veteran from their Olympic triumphs in 2010 and 2014, was forced off in their last eight win over Czech Republic with a knee injury.

Crosby missed the Finland semi and Canada's coaches hoped to have him available today - but he is not in the squad.

Seth Bennett
Ice hockey commentator

This is the highest level of hockey we have ever seen at an Olympics. The NHL players have made it a different world.

At the last two Olympics, games have been good but have missed the quality in the final third, the big moments. Players didn't have the skillset to break a game, so saw a lot of tight, dull games

Some of what the players have been doing here has been mind-blowing. One of the goals scored for Canada, Connor McDavid saucered this pass from the back door [behind the goal], it lands as Nathan MacKinnon is shooting, on the half-volley. That's when you recognise it.

I have been getting phone calls from people in the hockey world, all they have been saying is, this is so good. There have been periods where Kent [Simpson, BBC co-commentator] and I have just been sat watching, smiling, laughing.