Megan Keller’s OT Goal Lifts U.S. Past Canada for Olympic Gold

The United States captured Olympic gold when Megan Keller scored the sudden-death winner in overtime to beat Canada 2-1 in the women’s gold-medal match. Keller’s overtime strike capped a tense comeback and ended the title match in dramatic fashion.

Megan Keller delivers in overtime

Megan Keller ended the championship game four minutes and seven seconds into the overtime period, executing a tidy move that squeaked the puck past the Canadian goaltender and secured the gold medal for the United States. Teammates celebrated the decisive finish that followed a late third-period rally to force extra time.

Hilary Knight’s late equalizer and key momentum swings

Captain Hilary Knight tied the game late in the third period after the U. S. pulled its goalie. Knight deflected a wrister from the top of the zone, forcing overtime and setting the stage for Keller’s winner. Earlier in the game Canada opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal in the second period, ending a long span of shutout play for the U. S. that had lasted three hours, 52 minutes and seven seconds.

How the gold-medal match unfolded

• First period: A penalty at the end of the opening period gave the Americans a power-play start to the second.
• Second period: Canada scored shorthanded for the game’s first goal, breaking the Americans’ shutout streak.
• Third period: Canada earned a late power play, but the U. S. killed it off with just over four minutes remaining. With about 2: 30 to go the Americans pulled their goalie; captain Hilary Knight’s deflection tied the score and forced overtime.
• Overtime: Four minutes, seven seconds into overtime Megan Keller slid a move and got the puck past Canada’s netminder to clinch the gold.

After regulation play, shots on goal were close, with Canada edging the United States 29-28. The tight shot count reflected how evenly matched the teams were throughout a tense, low-scoring final.

Implications and what comes next

The overtime finish handed the U. S. the women’s hockey Olympic gold after a back-and-forth matchup with their long-time rival. The sequence—an early shorthanded goal by Canada, a late equalizer from the American captain, and an overtime winner by Megan Keller—underscored the narrow margins that decided the tournament’s final game. This result will shape immediate celebrations and the medal ceremonies that follow.

This is a developing story; details may evolve as further official information and team comments become available.