Inside U.S. Women's Hockey Gold Rally Led by Hilary Knight and Megan Keller

In a dramatic overtime final that decided Olympic gold, megan keller delivered the game-winning backhander 4: 07 into overtime to lift the United States to a 2-1 victory over Canada, and the team later stood arm in arm to sing the national anthem with fans in the arena.

Megan Keller: overtime backhand seals 2-1 victory

Megan Keller's overtime backhander provided the decisive moment in a tightly contested final. The goal came in sudden-death overtime and instantly became the match-winner that secured the gold medal for the U. S. team. After scoring, Keller celebrated alongside teammates and was pictured with a flag alongside a fellow player, underscoring the immediate emotion of the moment.

Hilary Knight's late equalizer and the anthem moment

Hilary Knight forced the game into overtime with a dramatic game-tying goal with 2: 04 remaining in regulation. That score marked her 15th Olympic goal and her 33rd Olympic point, milestones that stand as U. S. program records. Knight was mic'd up for the late-game sequence and captured much of the postgame attention, both for the tying goal and for the raw reaction that followed the gold-medal ceremony.

When the team assembled on the podium, they linked arms and sang the national anthem together. Knight called that shared moment "the best part, " emphasizing how hearing the anthem in that setting made the victory especially meaningful. American fans in the arena joined the team in belting out the song, turning the ceremony into a communal outpouring of celebration.

What the finish revealed about the game and both teams

The final itself unfolded as a close contest in which Canada mounted a strong performance and the U. S. ultimately found a way to prevail. The match entered overtime tied 1-1 after Knight's late goal, and the three-on-three overtime format created more open ice—conditions that the American team's speed and finishing ultimately exploited. Observers noted the relentlessness of the U. S. group and highlighted the late comeback as evidence of the squad's resolve and preparation.

Despite the loss, the Canadian side drew praise for a performance that won admiration from many present, underscoring that the final carried both high drama and mutual respect between the rivals.

Aftermath and immediate implications

• The U. S. players celebrated together on the podium and with fans in the arena during the anthem.
• Hilary Knight recorded historic Olympic scoring marks with her late equalizer.
• megan keller's overtime backhand provided the decisive gold-medal goal.

The combination of Knight's veteran clutch scoring and Keller's sudden-death finish framed the final as both a continuation of American depth and a showcase for individual moments that turned the tide. The anthem scene—players arm in arm, celebrating with fans—became a defining visual cap to the victory and a clear emotional high point for the roster.

Recent updates indicate this narrative is fresh and that the emotional and competitive fallout from the final will continue to be discussed. Details about subsequent reactions and longer-term implications for both programs may evolve with further coverage.