By JOHN WAWROW, AP Hockey Writer
MILAN (AP) – Megan Keller connected on a shot at 4:07 in overtime and the United States won its third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey, beating Canada 2-1 at the Milan Cortina Games on Thursday night to close another exciting chapter in one of the sport’s hottest games.
American captain Hilary Knight, in her fifth and final Olympics, forced overtime by giving Laila Edwards a shot from the green line with 2:04 left. The goal was the 15th of his Olympic career and the 33rd point to break the US record in both categories.
With the sides playing 3-on-3, Keller broke down the left wing and pushed Claire Thompson. Driving to the net, the US assistant captain landed a backhander that beat Ann-Renee Desbiens over her right pad.
-
Megan Keller (5) of the United States celebrates scoring the winning goal during the ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
1 of 6
Megan Keller (5) of the United States celebrates scoring the winning goal during the ice hockey gold medal game between the United States and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
Expand
Aerin Frankel stopped 30 shots in the US
Kristen O’Neill scored a shorthanded goal for Canada and Desbiens finished with 31 saves.
The US previously won gold in the 1998 Nagano Games, the first to feature women’s hockey, and in 2018 in Pyeongchang. Canada, which won five other gold medals, got a third silver.
This was the seventh of 12 Olympic meetings between the rivals to be decided by one goal and the third to go to regulation. Canada overcame a late 2-1 deficit to beat the US 3-2 on an overtime goal by Marie-Philip Poulin at the 2014 Sochi Games. The US won 3-2 in 2018 with Jocelyne Lamoureux scoring.
Although the finals were not close, the Americans dominated in Milan, going 7-0 and outscoring their opponents 33-2.
Canada pushed the US over the edge in just nine days with a 5-0 thrashing by the Americans in the first round.
O’Neill’s goal 54 seconds into the second period ended the Americans’ shutout streak of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 17 seconds, which coincided with a 5-1 opening second period win over the Czech Republic. The US was not behind in the competition.
Canada had secured a sixth gold medal before the US sent Frankel out for an extra attack and Knight converted. Edwards hit a low shot into the net that Knight took off his legs and past Desbiens.
This was the first Olympics for Edwards, the first black woman to represent the US in hockey.
Olympic coverage:
