Quinn Hughes had an extreme reaction to Jack Hughes's criticism prior to Golden Goal

There’s so much to say after Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal on Sunday morning, winning the USA’s first gold medal in hockey since the Miracle on Ice. He made a move in the neutral zone to give Zack Werenski a chance to keep possession, which he did in the offensive zone. He then found a pouncing Hughes, who slid the puck under Jordan Binnington to end the gold medal game in overtime and send Canada home disappointed. 

The goal was the culmination of weeks of criticism, lack of opportunity, low minutes, and opportunities for impact. Hughes did not have an easy Olympics, which continued in the gold medal game when he took a stick to the face that cracked multiple teeth. 

Hughes gave his all to Team USA, which only reminds us of the criticism he faced ahead of the Winter Olympics in Milan. 

Hughes suffered an injury a few games before the Olympic break, and he missed the final few games for the New Jersey Devils. Two of those games, against the Columbus Blue Jackets and New York Islanders, essentially pushed the Devils out of the playoff race with losses. 

After those losses, many were critical of Hughes’s inability to return to the lineup. It seemed like a nuanced take that didn’t take into account the fact that Hughes could have legitimately been unable to play in those games, but could be 100 percent a week later. 

Some of the most fervent critics of Hughes are national analysts who are Devils fans. Mike Rupp is a Stanley Cup champion with the Devils who now works with NHL Network and MSG Networks, doing intermission reports for Devils games. He actually questioned Hughes’s desire to play after his lower-body injury. 

There are others, but most came around on Hughes after seeing him play in the Olympics. He was electric and was one of the best players in the tournament. He capped it off with the Golden Goal.

The Americans were feeling themselves after the tournament. Hughes was rightfully excited when talking to NBC just minutes after scoring the game-winning goal. 

"This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates... I’m so proud to be American today... Unbelievable game by Hellebuyck. Unreal game by our team. Just a ballsy gutsy win. "

Jack Hughes after scoring Golden Goal

Following those comments, Quinn Hughes was pretty direct with the media. He did not appreciate the criticism his brother was facing. He felt it was coming from a place of missing information, and he wasn't shy when asked about how he felt.

Now, excuse the language, but this is how Quinn Hughes felt after the gold medal win. Hughes was an important cog on this team going into the gold medal game, and he proved essential when it mattered most.