Megan Keller scored the golden goal for the United States.
photo: Andre Ringuette/IIHF
Megan Keller scored at 4:07 of overtime to give the United States a 2-1 win over Canada and the gold medal. The U.S. trailed 1-0 for most of the last two periods before a Hilary Knight goal with the extra attacker forced overtime.
Keller took a long pass from Taylor Heise, got by Claire Thompson, and saw her shot dribble through the pads of Ann-Renee Desbiens for the gold medal.
"I'm lost for words," Keller said. "This is an incredible feeling. I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special."
This is their third gold after 1998 and 2018, while Canada, champions in 2022, has to settle for silver for the third time as well. It was a game of opposing strategies and styles. The Americans, heavily-favoured, were the younger, faster team, but the Canadians managed to negate those qualities for much of the game.
However, they couldn't capitalize on some fantastic scoring chances, in part from lack of touch, in part because of some superb goaltending from Aerin Frankel, who gave her team a chance to win all night.
"I thought we were right there all game," offered Natalie Spooner. "I thought we had a great start. We had a good forecheck, we were getting chances. It was probably one of the best games we've been able to put together and it's tough, you know, when you lose that way."
Santagiulia was packed with screaming fans, split more or less evenly between the two nations, and they had plenty to cheer for right from the get-go. Canada’s biggest challenge was to negate the U.S.’s flow and speed. To that end, they dumped the puck in and made the American defence chase the puck. In trouble in their own end, they cleared the puck to open ice, again forcing the Americans to chase down every loose puck. One-on-one battles along the boards? Not so much. Canada wasn’t interested.
The U.S. had the first and best chance of the period when Abbey Murphy created a little room coming down the right side. But she shot a little earlier than she would have liked, and Desbiens was there to make a solid save.
Canada had two power plays in the period, but the first was ineffective and the second, while better, yielded little. The Canadians were flagged near the end of the period and started the second short-handed on fresh ice.
Incredibly, it was Canada that capitalized on the four-on-five situation. An American turnover gave Laura Stacey a two-on-one when Kristin O’Neill jumped into the play and skated with every fibre of her being to join the rush. And then, just when it looked like Stacey might be checked, she squeezed the puck over to O'Neill, who now went in alone. She made a brilliant deke on Frankel and tucked the puck in the empty side of the net, just 54 seconds into the period. Incredibly, the scoreboard read Canada 1-United States 0.
The Americans started to move the puck more and Canada collapsed in their end all too often, giving the U.S. tons of possession and some great scoring chances, but it was clear that Desbiens brought her A game to the crease tonight. And with that, Canada responded, generating most of best scoring chances. Sarah Fillier nearly tipped in a hard pass twice. Sarah Nurse was robbed by the brilliant glove of Frankel, who also stoned Claire Thompson trying to cut in hard to the goal. Hannah Bilka got the puck alone in front but fired a shot way too high.
Back and forth the teams went, and when there was trouble the Canadians were happy to pin the puck along the boards rather than make a bad giveaway. The Americans used their speed more effectively, but Canada reacted with even more determination.
Canada sat on the lead in the third, and although they did it really well, it was a recipe for disaster. The Americans knew all along one shot is all they needed, so they were able to remain patient throughout. Still, the clock ticked down and Canada held their lead, but with just over two minutes to go and a faceoff in the Canada end, Frankel came to the bench for an extra skater.
It didn't take long. A Laila Edwards point shot was tipped in front by Hilary Knight, tying the game at 17:56 and forcing unlimited overtime, three-on-three, after a full intermission.
Keller took a long pass from Taylor Heise, got by Claire Thompson, and saw her shot dribble through the pads of Ann-Renee Desbiens for the gold medal.
"I'm lost for words," Keller said. "This is an incredible feeling. I love these girls so much. This group deserves it. Just the effort and the faith that we kept through this four-year journey is something very special."
This is their third gold after 1998 and 2018, while Canada, champions in 2022, has to settle for silver for the third time as well. It was a game of opposing strategies and styles. The Americans, heavily-favoured, were the younger, faster team, but the Canadians managed to negate those qualities for much of the game.
However, they couldn't capitalize on some fantastic scoring chances, in part from lack of touch, in part because of some superb goaltending from Aerin Frankel, who gave her team a chance to win all night.
"I thought we were right there all game," offered Natalie Spooner. "I thought we had a great start. We had a good forecheck, we were getting chances. It was probably one of the best games we've been able to put together and it's tough, you know, when you lose that way."
Santagiulia was packed with screaming fans, split more or less evenly between the two nations, and they had plenty to cheer for right from the get-go. Canada’s biggest challenge was to negate the U.S.’s flow and speed. To that end, they dumped the puck in and made the American defence chase the puck. In trouble in their own end, they cleared the puck to open ice, again forcing the Americans to chase down every loose puck. One-on-one battles along the boards? Not so much. Canada wasn’t interested.
The U.S. had the first and best chance of the period when Abbey Murphy created a little room coming down the right side. But she shot a little earlier than she would have liked, and Desbiens was there to make a solid save.
Canada had two power plays in the period, but the first was ineffective and the second, while better, yielded little. The Canadians were flagged near the end of the period and started the second short-handed on fresh ice.
Incredibly, it was Canada that capitalized on the four-on-five situation. An American turnover gave Laura Stacey a two-on-one when Kristin O’Neill jumped into the play and skated with every fibre of her being to join the rush. And then, just when it looked like Stacey might be checked, she squeezed the puck over to O'Neill, who now went in alone. She made a brilliant deke on Frankel and tucked the puck in the empty side of the net, just 54 seconds into the period. Incredibly, the scoreboard read Canada 1-United States 0.
The Americans started to move the puck more and Canada collapsed in their end all too often, giving the U.S. tons of possession and some great scoring chances, but it was clear that Desbiens brought her A game to the crease tonight. And with that, Canada responded, generating most of best scoring chances. Sarah Fillier nearly tipped in a hard pass twice. Sarah Nurse was robbed by the brilliant glove of Frankel, who also stoned Claire Thompson trying to cut in hard to the goal. Hannah Bilka got the puck alone in front but fired a shot way too high.
Back and forth the teams went, and when there was trouble the Canadians were happy to pin the puck along the boards rather than make a bad giveaway. The Americans used their speed more effectively, but Canada reacted with even more determination.
Canada sat on the lead in the third, and although they did it really well, it was a recipe for disaster. The Americans knew all along one shot is all they needed, so they were able to remain patient throughout. Still, the clock ticked down and Canada held their lead, but with just over two minutes to go and a faceoff in the Canada end, Frankel came to the bench for an extra skater.
It didn't take long. A Laila Edwards point shot was tipped in front by Hilary Knight, tying the game at 17:56 and forcing unlimited overtime, three-on-three, after a full intermission.
Gold Medal Game: United States vs Canada - 2026 Women's Olympic Games
OF