Gold Medal game between Canada and USA receives unexpected start time

Puck drop is set for 8:10 AM EST on Sunday morning in Milan. We're getting breakfast hockey for the biggest international tournament game of the decade.

The scheduling is strictly a logistical reality dictated by the host country. The Olympic Closing Ceremonies start in Verona at 2:30 PM EST.

The athletes need time to travel down the road after the medal presentation. It forces an afternoon puck drop locally in Italy.

And that translates to an ungodly hour for North American fans. West Coast viewers are setting their alarms for 5:10 AM just to see the opening faceoff.

Nobody's complaining inside the locker room. The intensity of this border rivalry supersedes the clock entirely.

Canada rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat Finland on Friday. The transition game relied on crisp passing and pure speed to tilt the ice.

McDavid enters the final with 13 points already in the bank. He is single-handedly driving the offensive output for the top six.

On the other side, the Americans crushed Slovakia with solid execution across all four lines. They're chasing their first Olympic men's gold since 1980.

Head coach Mike Sullivan has his squad playing a heavy, suffocating style. Opponents are frequently held scoreless during critical even-strength stretches.

The penalty kill units for both rosters will be tested early and often. Special teams usually dictate the outcome in these tight, high-stakes environments.

Goaltending is another massive factor. Connor Hellebuyck boasts a stellar .935 SV% over his last three games, entirely shutting down high-danger chances.

This matchup features the absolute best talent in the Show. The blue line depth on both sides is completely staggering.

Career-wise, these elite players wait lifetimes for a stage exactly like this. The bizarre morning start time is just a minor footnote in hockey history.

Bars across North America are opening early to accommodate the morning rush. Sleep deprivation is a small price to pay for a front-row seat to greatness.