Knight’s equalizer sets the stage for Megan Keller ’s heroics

With the Americans having pulled their goalie and two minutes from losing the gold medal to arch-rival Canada, veteran leader Hilary Knight redirected a Laila Edwards rocket from the point past Canadian goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens, sending fans in Santa Giulia Arena into a roar. That clutch goal kept Team USA alive, and just over four minutes into overtime, Megan Keller finished the job — slipping the puck through the legs of Desbiens to secure a 2-1 victory in the gold-medal match at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

How the winning play unfolded: Canada vs US

Taylor Heise caught Canada on an ill-timed line change and fired a length-of-the-ice pass that set Keller free. Keller juked defender Claire Thompson, created space in front of the net and lashed the puck past Desbiens for the sudden-death winner. “Everything happens so fast,” Desbiens said. “On the shots you never quite know where it goes and it squeaked in. I’ll see that one for a long time.”

Knight reaches a career Olympic milestone

For nearly two weeks Knight had been stuck on 14 career Olympic goals, tied with Natalie Darwitz and Katie King. Her equalizer pushed her past that mark and gave the 36-year-old the American record as well as a gold medal in what is expected to be the final Olympic game of her career. “There was no way we were losing this game,” Knight said. “That’s all. Simple as that.”

A resilient U.S. run to gold

The U.S. had dominated the tournament to that point, outscoring its first six opponents 31-1 and going 16 consecutive periods without conceding. The only earlier blemish had been a fluky opening-game goal by Czechia’s Barbora Juříčková. Kendall Coyne Schofield praised the group dynamic: “There’s something special about this one. Everyone is willing to do whatever it takes for this team, no matter what the role is.”

Canada pushes early but U.S. answers back

Canada, which had won five of seven Olympic golds heading into the final, came out hungrier and outshot the U.S. 8-6 in the opening period. The visitors broke through early in the second when a strange bounce off the glass found Laura Stacey for a 2-on-1 that finished with Kristin O’Neill’s shot for a 1-0 lead. The U.S. responded two minutes later with Knight’s strike to level the match and force overtime.

Overtime drama and the final minutes

Overtime’s open 3-on-3 format created space for the decisive play. Taylor Heise’s lengthened outlet and Keller’s quick read produced the goal that sealed the gold. Keller’s finish — a composed, athletic shove of the puck through Desbiens’ legs — completed a dramatic comeback and crowned the U.S. women’s hockey team as Olympic champions.

What this means for women’s hockey

A come-from-behind win over Canada strengthens the argument that this American roster is among the best the country has produced. The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada has long defined Olympic women’s hockey, and this victory — fueled by veteran leadership and timely plays from stars and role players alike — adds a memorable chapter to that history.

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