Hilary Knight Deflects Late Equalizer as U.S. Beats Canada 2-1 in OT to Win Olympic Women's Hockey Gold

The United States reclaimed the women's Olympic hockey title after a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Canada in Milan. hilary knight tipped a late wrister to force overtime, and Megan Keller finished the game early in the extra period to secure the gold on Feb. 19, 2026.

Hilary Knight: What happened and what’s new

In the gold-medal match at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Canada opened the scoring with a shorthanded goal that ended the Americans' long shutout run of three hours, 52 minutes and seven seconds. The U. S. began the second period on a power play that carried over from a penalty at the end of the first. Late in the third period, with the Americans trailing and the puck in Canada's zone, the U. S. pulled its goaltender. hilary knight deflected a shot from the top of the zone to tie the game with roughly two minutes and thirty seconds remaining in regulation, sending the match to overtime.

Four minutes and seven seconds into the overtime period, Megan Keller executed a move that allowed her to squeak the puck past the Canadian goaltender, delivering the gold medal to the United States in a 2-1 finish. After regulation play, shots on goal were 29-28 in favor of Canada. Late in the third, Canada had a power play that the U. S. successfully killed with just over four minutes remaining.

Behind the headline

The match unfolded as a defensive, low-scoring contest where special teams and late-game decisions proved decisive. A prolonged shutout streak by the U. S. ended when Canada scored shorthanded, shifting momentum. The decision to pull the goalkeeper late in the third is a high-risk tactic that paid off when the U. S. converted to level the score and extend the contest into sudden death.

Key actors in the outcome include the national teams of the United States and Canada, captain Hilary Knight, and Megan Keller, whose overtime goal clinched the title. The location and timing of the match are part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on Feb. 19, 2026, at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy.

What we still don’t know

• Whether there were injuries sustained during the game that will affect either team going forward.
• Postgame comments from the players and coaching staffs that might explain tactical choices and in-game adjustments.
• Details on individual player ice time and line deployments that influenced the late-game situations.
• Broader roster implications or team plans following the conclusion of the tournament.

What happens next

• Gold-medal celebration and medal ceremonies at the Olympic venue; short-term public recognition for the team following the victory.
• Postgame evaluations by both teams that could lead to roster or strategy adjustments for future international competitions.
• Media and organizational reviews of special teams performance, given the impact of a shorthanded goal and late power-play situations on the outcome.
• Potential legacy and leadership discussions focused on the captaincy and pivotal contributions in the match.

Why it matters

The match decided the Olympic women's hockey champion and highlighted the impact of late-game decisions and special-teams play at the highest level of competition. The United States' comeback—capped by hilary knight's tying goal and Megan Keller's overtime winner—underscores how narrow margins and single plays can determine a tournament's outcome. Near-term implications include celebration and recognition for the victors, immediate performance reviews for both squads, and attention on how late-game tactics are used in critical international fixtures.