The United States and Canada have met in every Olympic final except one – Turin 2006, where Canada defeated Sweden – since women's hockey made its Olympic debut in Nagano in 1998.
The Olympic final in Italy was no exception, and the USA was the big favorite. The Americans had a 31–1 goal difference going into the gold medal match and against final opponent Canada, the USA had won 5–0 in the group stage.
That didn't deter Canada in the final. In the second period, Kristin O'Neill scored to make it 1–0 for Canada, a goal that looked like it would stand. But with just over two minutes left, USA captain Hilary Knight scored to tie the game at 1–1.
The goal was Knight's 15th in Olympic history – making her the United States' all-time leading Olympic scorer – and the match went into overtime.
"She has been the face of women's hockey in the United States for years. We never would have gotten here without her. I can't praise her enough, and for her to crown her Olympic career in this way... I'm just so incredibly happy for her," defenseman Megan Keller told HBO Max.
The USA won Olympic gold. In the three-on-three overtime, the USA kept their cool and it was Keller who secured the country's first Olympic ice hockey gold since 2018.
Sweden lost the bronze medal match against Switzerland earlier on Thursday.
