Jack Hughes Shares Update On Teeth Lost During Olympic Gold Medal Game

Jack Hughes delivered one of the most unforgettable moments of the 2026 Winter Olympics, but the Team USA hero is still missing a few teeth from the dramatic championship game. The New Jersey Devils star center, who scored the overtime goal that secured a 2-1 victory over Canada in the Olympic gold medal game, made a media appearance on March 9 at the Raising Cane's location in Times Square alongside U.S. women's hockey gold medalist Caroline Harvey.

While the focus of the event was celebrating Team USA's historic success, reporters, including The Blast, couldn't help but ask about Hughes' now-famous missing front teeth, a battle scar from the intense gold medal showdown. And according to Jack Hughes, dentists across the country have already been lining up to help fix the damage.

When asked whether he had plans to repair the injury, Hughes admitted he's been hearing from plenty of dental professionals eager to help. "Yeah, I mean, the amount of dentists that have reached out, man," Hughes said with a laugh. "It's too many."

Despite the overwhelming interest, the 24-year-old confirmed the repair is coming soon. "I'm going to get them fixed, hopefully this week," he added. For now, though, the Devils star is still sporting the same missing-tooth grin that quickly became one of the defining images of Team USA's gold medal run.

The dental damage happened late in the third period of the Olympic final when Canada's Sam Bennett accidentally struck Hughes in the face with a high stick. The hit knocked out multiple front teeth and left Hughes bleeding heavily on the ice during the final minutes of regulation.

Because of the injury and visible blood, officials assessed a four-minute power play for Team USA, giving the Americans a critical opportunity late in the game. Despite the painful blow, Hughes didn't leave the game. Instead, he returned to the ice and continued battling through the final moments of regulation.

Remarkably, Hughes' night was far from over. After fighting through the injury, the Devils center remained on the ice into overtime, where he delivered the biggest moment of the tournament.

Just 1:41 into overtime, Hughes slipped the puck between the legs of Canadian goaltender Jordan Binnington, sealing a 2-1 win for Team USA and securing the Olympic gold medal.

The goal instantly became one of the most memorable highlights of the Winter Games.

Despite the heroic moment, Hughes says life hasn't changed drastically since the tournament. "Honestly, not that wild," he said of the attention following the Olympics. "I'm still just a hockey player."

The Devils' star explained that Team USA celebrated the victory briefly before returning to their regular professional schedules. Still, Hughes said the reaction from fans back home has been meaningful. "Since we've come back to the U.S., the love from people has been awesome," he said. "People on the streets are like, 'Thank you, we needed this.'"

While the overtime winner and his now-famous missing teeth have captured much of the attention, Hughes said some of his favorite memories from the Olympics happened away from the ice. "The Olympic Village was the best part," Jack Hughes said. "NHL players get treated really well on the road and at home, but you go there, and it's like you're back in hockey camp."

Hughes described athletes living together in a much more communal environment, with both the men's and women's hockey teams sharing the same floor. "Everyone's hanging out in the cafeteria and wearing USA gear every day," he said. "We had like three hockey bags of USA clothes. It was ridiculous."

For Hughes, the chance to represent his country, both on and off the ice, made the experience even more meaningful. "It was just so fun to represent the colors and wear the USA flag every day," he added.