Hilary Knight, Megan Keller propel U.S. to Olympic hockey gold

Hilary Knight tied the gold-medal game with just over two minutes left in regulation, and Megan Keller delivered the overtime winner four minutes into extra time to lift the U. S. to a 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The dramatic finish has already become a touchstone moment for younger players and local youth teams looking to Team USA for inspiration.

Hilary Knight's late equalizer

Facing the first real test of pressure at these Games, the U. S. trailed late in the third period when team captain Hilary Knight urged her teammates to step up. With the coach having pulled the goalie and a third-period faceoff in the attacking zone, the puck found defender Laila Edwards at the point. Knight moved to the front of the net and redirected Edwards’ shot past the Canadian goaltender to make it 1-1 with just over two minutes remaining.

The goal was the 15th of Knight’s Olympic career and broke the American record held by Natalie Darwitz and Katie King. Knight, who has said this will be her final Olympics, framed the moment simply: once the puck hit the net she felt the team had a path to victory.

Megan Keller's overtime winner

The match turned four minutes into 3-on-3 overtime. Taylor Heise sent a length-of-the-ice pass to a streaking Megan Keller, who beat a defender with a decisive move and finished 1-on-1 with the goaltender by tucking the puck through the legs for the game-deciding score. Keller described the overtime approach as choosing to attack — to play to win rather than to play not to lose — and her finish completed an imperfect but resilient American comeback.

Youth team looks to Team USA

A youth hockey coach, Andy Mandel, and his players joined a national morning broadcast to react to the win, saying the U. S. women’s rally provided a model for determination and late-game belief. The team’s response underscores how the gold-medal victory is resonating beyond the roster: younger players are watching the leadership and clutch plays and treating them as a blueprint for competing under pressure.

• Final score: U. S. 2, Canada 1; Knight tied late, Keller scored in OT.
• Knight’s tying goal was her 15th Olympic marker and set a new U. S. Olympic career record.
• The comeback has already become a source of inspiration for youth teams and grassroots programs.

Analysis and forward look: The U. S. ended the gold-medal match having faced its first sustained pressure at these Games and responded with late-game poise and decisive overtime execution. If Knight departs international play after the Olympics as she has indicated, the program will enter a period of transition in scoring leadership; the performance by emerging contributors in this game, including Megan Keller, suggests there are players ready to shoulder more responsibility. For youth programs drawing inspiration from this finish, the observable indicators are straightforward: late-game positioning, high-traffic finishes at the net, and aggressive overtime play can change outcomes under short-handed clock situations.