The United States women's ice hockey team staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Canada 2-1 in overtime, securing the gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Megan Keller scored the decisive goal, sliding the puck under Canadian goaltender Ann-Marie Desbiens in sudden-death 3-on-3 overtime.
Canada took an early lead and dominated much of the game, outshooting the USA 29-28 in regulation. The Americans struggled to generate offence until they pulled goaltender Aerin Frankel with under five minutes remaining in the third period. Laila Edwards assisted on the tying goal by captain Hilary Knight, forcing extra time.
In overtime, Taylor Heise threaded a pass along the boards to Keller, who slipped past a defender and beat Desbiens. The Canadian netminder initially did not realise the puck had crossed the line, but the crowd's reaction confirmed the goal. The USA celebrated a dramatic victory in a rivalry that consistently delivers high-stakes drama.
Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin and goaltender Desbiens were standout performers, but the USA's persistence paid off. The win marks another chapter in the intense hockey rivalry between the two nations, with the men's gold medal game also set to feature the same matchup on Sunday.
