us women's hockey: Knight and Poulin Set for Final Showdown in Milan Cortina
For the seventh time in women's Olympic history, the United States and Canada meet for gold. The matchup doubles as a potential fairy-tale finish for Hilary Knight — skating in her fifth and final Olympics — and another chapter in Marie-Philip Poulin's reputation as a game-deciding scorer. Both teams enter the final battle hardened and focused after dominant runs through the tournament.
Knight's swan song and leadership
Hilary Knight has long been the emotional and offensive engine of the U. S. program. Calling Milan Cortina her last Olympic appearance, she has made it clear she wants to finish on the highest note: Olympic gold. Knight brings a resume that reads like a legend — 10 world titles, the top marks for goals, points and assists at the IIHF Women’s World Championships, and a tie for the all-time lead in Olympic goals and points for her country — and she has used that pedigree to impose a competitive standard across this roster.
Her teammates point to Knight's relentlessness and preparation as contagious. On-ice, she remains a threat every time she touches the puck; off-ice, her approach sets the tone for a team that went undefeated through the qualifying round. Young stars have stepped up around her, and defenders have tightened in front of the net. For a player chasing a final, storybook ending, Knight's presence elevates every facet of the American effort.
Poulin's clutch legacy and records
If Knight is the team's heartbeat, Marie-Philip Poulin is its cold-blooded closer. Poulin has been the game-winner on Olympic hockey's biggest nights — scoring the decisive goals in three gold-medal games — and this tournament added another landmark to her résumé. She moved past the previous mark to become the all-time leading goal scorer in women's Olympic hockey, and then extended that new benchmark, cementing her place in Olympic history.
Her skill set is simple but devastating: elite hockey IQ, calm in the highest-pressure moments, and an instinct for finishing. That blend has helped Canada defend its Olympic title and sustain a program that has claimed five of the seven gold medals contested since women's hockey debuted at the Games. Poulin's ability to tilt the game in a single shift makes her the primary focus of every opposing coach and player.
Final matchup: keys and storylines
Beyond the marquee names, this final is a collision of styles and depth. The U. S. has showcased balance and defensive discipline, with a younger core responding to veteran leadership and a tournament-leading point producer in Caroline Harvey. Harvey's nine points underline her role as a major offensive fulcrum, and the Americans have leaned on a system that maximizes puck possession and transition speed.
Canada's path back to the final included dominant wins and a single loss in preliminary play; the roster blends veteran finishing power with a blue-line that consistently shuts down opponents' top lines. Expect Canada to try to control tempo and get the game into moments where Poulin can influence the scoreboard.
Special teams and goaltending will be decisive. Penalty kills that can withstand pressure and power plays that convert chances will likely swing momentum. Physicality along the boards, timely line changes and limiting odd-man rushes will be priorities for both coaches. Emotion will be high — for Knight, this is a final Olympic curtain call, and for Poulin, another chance to deliver in the sport's most consequential moments.
When the puck drops on Thursday, both nations will bring four years of preparation to one game. The rivalry ensures intensity; the stakes guarantee drama. For players and fans alike, the final will be a definitive chapter in the long-running saga of north-of-the-border rivals in women's hockey.
