Megan Keller and Hilary Knight Deliver U.S. Olympic Hockey Gold in Overtime
megan keller scored the decisive overtime goal as the United States rallied to beat Canada 2-1 in the Olympic women's hockey final in Milan, a come-from-behind victory that secured the gold medal. The winning play followed Hilary Knight's game-tying goal with exactly 2: 04 remaining in regulation, setting the stage for an overtime finish that mattered for Olympic history and player legacies.
Megan Keller's decisive overtime finish
Megan Keller completed the comeback four minutes into sudden-death overtime, finishing a length-of-the-ice pass from Taylor Heise. Keller produced a standout individual move that left a Canadian defender behind and then beat the Canadian goaltender with a backhand through the legs 4: 07 into overtime to make it 2-1. The play ended a tense, three-on-three stretch of overtime and directly clinched the gold for the United States.
Hilary Knight's late equalizer
Hilary Knight energized the U. S. comeback in the final minutes of regulation. With the U. S. trailing and the coach having pulled the goalie with just over two minutes left, the puck reached defender Laila Edwards at the point. Knight moved to the front of the net and redirected Edwards' shot past the Canadian goaltender to tie the score with 2: 04 remaining. That goal was Knight's 15th of her Olympic career and, along with her career totals, set American records in Olympic play.
Team celebration and anthem moment
The victory was followed by an emotional podium moment in Milan, where the U. S. players stood arm in arm and sang the national anthem together. Team leaders described the anthem as the best part of the night; one captain was mic'd up and voiced how meaningful the moment was. Players and staff celebrated on the ice after a match that had seen Canada play strongly for most of the game, including an earlier shorthanded goal that gave them a lead that held until Knight's late equalizer.
Immediate outlook and key takeaways
The win leaves the women's tournament with a dramatic finish and shifts attention to other Olympic matchups: the U. S. delegation’s focus moves next to the men's semifinal schedule, where the men face Slovakia in a semifinal matchup on Friday. Several team notes bear watching: a veteran captain who has signaled this will be her final Olympics now departs with national scoring records; the overtime format and open ice in three-on-three play proved decisive; and the U. S. depth produced both the tying and winning plays when it mattered most.
- Final score: United States 2, Canada 1 (overtime).
- Hilary Knight tied the game with 2: 04 left in regulation; the goal was her 15th Olympic goal.
- Megan Keller scored the game-winner 4: 07 into overtime after a pass from Taylor Heise.
