MILAN (AP) — Megan Keller made a backhand 4:07 into overtime and the United States won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime. Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another exciting chapter of one of the most heated rivalries in sports.
American Captain Hilary Knight, during her fifth and final Olympic Games, forced overtime by tapping in Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with 2:04 remaining. The goal was the 15th of her Olympic career and the 33rd point to break the American record in both categories.
With the teams playing 3-on-3, Keller broke up the left wing and pushed past Claire Thompson. Driving to the net, the US Assistant Captain stepped off a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens down her right pad.
“I’m at a loss for words,” Keller said. “This is an incredible feeling. I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the commitment and trust we have maintained throughout this four-year journey is something very special.”
The US previously won gold at the 1998 Nagano Games, the first in women’s hockey, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Canada, which won the other five gold medals, settled for its third silver.
Petr David Josek via Associated Press
Aerin Frankel stopped 30 shots for the US
Kristen O’Neill scored a short-handed goal for Canada and Desbiens finished with 31 saves.
This was the seventh of twelve Olympic meetings between the rivals to be decided by one goal, and the third to fall outside regular rules. Canada overcame a late 2-1 deficit to beat the US 3-2 after Marie-Philip Poulin’s goal at the 2014 Sochi Games. The US won 3-2 in 2018 when Jocelyne Lamoureux scored in a shootout.
Although the final could not have been closer, the Americans were dominant in Milan, leading 7-0 and a combined 33-2 ahead of their opponents.
Canada pushed the US to the brink just nine days after being defeated 5-0 by the Americans in the preliminary round.
O’Neill’s goal 54 seconds into the second period ended the Americans’ 5-hour, 52-minute, 17-second shutout streak, which dated to the second period of a 5-1 opening victory over the Czech Republic. The US was not behind in the tournament.
As fans alternated chants of “USA! and “Ca-na-da,” Canada was within reach of its sixth gold medal. The U.S. pulled Frankel for an extra attacker with 2:23 left, and Knight converted 19 seconds later. Edwards hit a low shot at the net that Knight tipped in through her legs and past Desbiens.
This was the first Olympics for Edwards, the first black woman to represent the U.S. in hockey.
“We knew we had it in us, and Hil came up big with that tying goal,” Keller said. “I think there’s just a lot of belief in our group. We wanted to play to win.”
Petr David Josek via Associated Press
For defending Olympic champion Canadians, this was considered a last hurray for their aging core led by Marie-Philip Poulin. “Captain Clutch” and her teammates showed determination in pushing the Americans to the brink.
Canada hardly looked overmatched in the first period, and O’Neill opened the scoring by finishing a 2-on-1 short-handed break early in the second period. Canada continued its attack and had several chances in overtime.
A minute before Keller’s goal, Sarah Fillier advanced up the right wing, but her shot was stopped by Frankel, with the puck ending up in the crease.
The Americans extended their winning streak against Canada to eight. It started with two victories at the world championships in April, including the gold medal match. The US went on to win a four-game exhibition series by a combined margin of 26–7.
Under coach John Wroblewski, the US has renewed much of its roster from the team that lost 3-2 to Canada at the 2022 Games in Beijing. This team consisted of only eleven returning players and seven who were still in college.
AP Olympic coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
