2026 Winter Olympics: U.S. rallies past Canada in overtime to capture gold in women's hockey
By lauraharris // 2026-02-20
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  • Hilary Knight forced overtime with a late third-period goal, and Megan Keller scored 4:07 into overtime to lift the U.S. past Canada, 2-1, at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
  • Knight's tying goal, her 15th Olympic goal and 33rd career point, set U.S. records in her fifth and final Games appearance.
  • Goalie Aerin Frankel made 30 saves, while Canada's Kristin O'Neill ended the Americans' shutout streak with a short-handed goal; Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 31 shots as the rivals pushed the final to overtime.
  • The victory continued a historic rivalry that began at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and evened the all-time U.S.-Canada record at 25-25, including world championship play.
  • The win validated coach John Wroblewski's four-year vision, as a blend of veteran leaders and emerging stars delivered a resilient, championship performance.
With one final, defining touch, Hilary Knight extended her Olympic legacy. Moments later, Megan Keller ensured it would end in gold. The United States cemented its status as one of the most dominant programs in women's hockey history on Thursday night, Feb. 19, rallying to defeat Canada 2-1 in overtime at the 2026 Winter Olympics and secure its third Olympic gold medal. After cruising through their first six games of the tournament, the Americans faced their toughest test in a familiar foe. As chants of "U-S-A!" and "Ca-na-da!" echoed through the arena, the rivalry once again delivered a dramatic finish worthy of the sport's biggest stage. Playing in her fifth and final Olympics, Knight forced overtime with 2:04 remaining in regulation, tipping in a shot from Laila Edwards with goaltender Aerin Frankel pulled for an extra attacker. The goal was the 15th of Knight's Olympic career and her 33rd point, both U.S. records. In the 3-on-3 overtime, Keller delivered the championship moment. Breaking up the left wing, she pushed past Claire Thompson, drove hard to the net and slipped a backhander past Ann-Renée Desbiens' right pad 4:07 into the extra period. The goal sparked an emotional, tear-filled celebration as teammates streamed onto the ice. Frankel finished with 30 saves, anchoring a U.S. team that had dominated the tournament defensively. Canada's Kristin O'Neill scored a short-handed goal just 54 seconds into the second period, ending the Americans' shutout streak of 5 hours, 52 minutes and 17 seconds – a run that dated back to the second period of a 5-1 opening win over Czechia. It was also the first time the U.S. trailed in the tournament. Desbiens made 31 saves for Canada, which suffered a 5-0 preliminary-round loss to the Americans just nine days earlier.

Victory validates coach's vision

The rivalry, which began when the U.S. defeated Canada for gold at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, the first Games to feature women's hockey, once again lived up to its billing. This marked the seventh of 12 Olympic meetings between the nations decided by one goal and the third to go beyond regulation. Including world championships, the victory evened the all-time record at 25-25. For the Americans, the win also validated the vision of coach John Wroblewski, who took over months after the U.S. fell to Canada in Beijing four years ago. Coach John Wroblewski, as per BrightU.AI's Enoch, is a seasoned hockey coach with a proven track record in developing young talent and fostering a culture of excellence. His vision is to build a squad that is not only competitive on the international stage but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for young girls and women, promoting the values of hard work, perseverance and teamwork. He aims to create a team that is resilient, adaptable and capable of overcoming any challenge, both on and off the ice. A blend of seasoned veterans and emerging stars delivered on that promise. Watch this video of Hockey Canada unveiling its Olympic roster for the 2026 Winter Games. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: NewsNationNow.com 1 NewsNationNow.com 2 BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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