Categories Sports

United States Wins Olympic Gold in Women’s Hockey With Overtime Win Over Canada

Heading into Thursday’s Olympic gold-medal game, the United States women’s national ice hockey team looked untouchable. The Americans were unbeaten through six games, scoring at least five goals in every matchup and cruising past their longtime rivals from Canada women’s national ice hockey team with a dominant 5–0 win in the preliminary round.

But the gold-medal match at the Milan Cortina Olympics unfolded far differently. Canada dictated the pace early and led for most of the contest. The Canadians executed their defensive game plan to near perfection, limiting space and frustrating the Americans’ high-powered offense. Just 54 seconds into the second period, Canada struck while shorthanded, as fourth-line center Kristin O’Neill snapped the puck past Aerin Frankel to end the U.S. shutout streak at 352 minutes, 17 seconds — only the second goal the Americans had allowed all tournament.

Facing their first real adversity all tournament, the United States gradually found its footing. After being outshot in the opening period, the Americans generated sustained pressure in the second, firing 14 shots at Ann-Renée Desbiens, who was outstanding in goal with 31 saves in a duel with Frankel. The tension only intensified in a scoreless third period, highlighted by a crucial U.S. penalty kill that remained perfect throughout the tournament.

With just 2:04 remaining in regulation, captain Hilary Knight delivered a historic moment. Deflecting a point shot, Knight scored her 15th career Olympic goal to tie the game 1–1 and ignite a comeback that had seemed unlikely minutes earlier.

Overtime provided the dramatic finish befitting the rivalry. Playing 3-on-3, the Americans caught Canada during a line change, allowing veteran defenseman Megan Keller to jump into the rush. Keller slipped the puck through traffic and past Desbiens just over four minutes into overtime, sealing a resilient 2–1 win and Olympic gold for the United States.

The comeback win capped a perfect 7–0 tournament run and reinforced this group’s claim as one of the greatest teams in U.S. women’s hockey history. After outscoring their first six opponents 31–1 and going 16 consecutive periods without allowing a goal, the Americans saved their most defining performance for last, when it mattered most.

Tags

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *