Womens Hockey Usa: Knight’s late equalizer and Keller’s OT goal win gold

Team USA captured Olympic gold in a 2-1 victory over Canada after Hilary Knight tied the gold-medal game with 2: 04 remaining and Megan Keller scored the 3-on-3 overtime winner. The womens hockey usa squad saw a veteran leader break U. S. Olympic scoring marks and a defenseman deliver the decisive play in sudden death, clinching the sport’s top prize.

Knight’s game-tying heroics

With the goalie pulled and time running down, Team USA’s captain deflected a blue-line shot into the net to knot the final at 1-1 with 2: 04 left in regulation. That goal moved Knight into sole possession atop the U. S. Olympic record book for career goals and career points for any Team USA hockey player. The tying score also snapped Canada’s shutout and forced overtime, prolonging Knight’s final Olympic appearance and etching another milestone onto her career.

Womens Hockey Usa decisive plays

The gold-medal game’s lone overtime tally came in 3-on-3 play, when Megan Keller maneuvered around a defender and lifted a backhand that found the net past the Canadian goaltender’s right arm for the 2-1 victory. Earlier in the contest, Canada had taken a 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal in the second period; that goal was the first allowed by the U. S. in the tournament until the final. The tight margin underscored how a single sequence — Knight’s late equalizer followed by Keller’s sudden-death finish — determined the title.

Goaltending, roster balance and next steps

Goaltending played a central role throughout the tournament. Team USA’s starter made 30 saves in the final and finished the tournament with a. 980 save percentage, becoming the first Olympic goalie to record three shutouts in a single Games. The roster blended veteran leadership and younger contributors; two Wisconsin seniors combined for 18 points and ranked among the team’s top ice-time performers, highlighting a core that could remain influential at future events even as this cycle ends for longtime players.

Looking ahead, observable indicators suggest clear pathways for the program: sustained elite goaltending and continued low goals-against totals would keep this team competitive, while the confirmed departure of veteran Olympians will accelerate opportunities for younger players who logged heavy minutes here. If the defensive structure that limited opponents to two goals across the tournament can be preserved, the team’s foundation for future international events appears intact.

Key takeaways:

• Final score: United States 2, Canada 1 (overtime).
• Hilary Knight tied the game with 2: 04 left and set U. S. Olympic records for goals and points.
• Megan Keller scored the 3-on-3 overtime winner to secure gold.