Megan Keller OT Winner Decides Womens Hockey Gold Medal Game in Knight's Farewell
The Womens Hockey Gold Medal Game ended in dramatic fashion as Megan Keller's overtime strike delivered a 2-1 victory for the United States at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games, a result that also served as the final Olympic appearance for Hilary Knight.
Womens Hockey Gold Medal Game: Keller's overtime, Knight's final curtain
The United States and Canada met in the final for the seventh time in women's Olympic hockey history on Thursday, Feb. 19 (ET). In a tight contest that reflected the long-running rivalry, the U. S. prevailed 2-1 in overtime when Megan Keller broke the deadlock. The win completed a tournament in which the Americans had gone undefeated through the qualifying round and culminated in an emotional finish for Hilary Knight, who had announced Milan Cortina would be her fifth and final Olympics.
Poulin milestones and the larger rivalry narrative
The matchup also featured Canada's marquee performer, Marie-Philip Poulin, who entered the final having extended her mark as the all-time leading goal scorer in women's Olympic hockey; she reached 20 career Olympic goals during the tournament. That milestone set the stage for a classic confrontation between two of the sport's most clutch players—Poulin and Knight—each carrying a narrative of legacy into the final.
Game build-up had underscored how both teams arrived with momentum. The United States went undefeated through qualifying, while Canada dominated much of its tournament run, with the notable exception of a 5-0 loss to the Americans in the preliminary round. The final reflected that intensity, with defenses holding firm through regulation before Keller's decisive play in overtime.
The result altered the historical ledger: between them, the two nations have won every Olympic women's hockey gold medal since the sport was introduced, and the U. S. now holds three golds while Canada has five. The Milan Cortina final therefore reinforced the North American dominance of the sport while delivering a storybook ending to one star's Olympic career and a milestone for another.
Aftermath and what the game meant
For Knight, the victory provided the kind of high-note she sought for her final Olympic appearance. Her leadership and tournament resume were central talking points in the lead-up to the final, and this game marked the last time she would don the Olympic uniform. For Poulin, the tournament confirmed her standing as a premier postseason performer, having continued to find the net on the Olympic stage and extending her all-time scoring total.
Beyond individual storylines, the match served as another chapter in the heated rivalry that has defined women’s Olympic hockey for decades. With the two powers meeting repeatedly on the sport’s biggest stage, this edition delivered both legacy moments and immediate drama—an overtime winner, a farewell, and a record-extending performance—ensuring the 2026 final will be remembered among the rivalry's more consequential editions.
