USA vs Canada women’s hockey Olympics score in gold medal game

February 20, 2026
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Updated Feb. 19, 2026, 5:24 p.m. ET

The biggest women’s hockey game of the year lived up to its billing. Down one goal with less than two minutes left, the U.S. came back with a goal to send the game into overtime and another in the extra period to win gold.

The U.S. women’s hockey team beat Canada 2-1 in the gold-medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 19, at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan. The U.S. tied the game at 1-1 on a late Hilary Knight goal, which sent the game into overtime, where defender Megan Keller,a Farmington Hills alum, scored the tournament-winning goal on a breakaway.

Team USA and Canada had met six times before in previous Olympic gold-medal games, with Canada winning four of the games and the U.S. taking two. But with the win, Team USA now has its third, finishing off a dominating tournament in which they outscored their opponents 33-2.

Watch the Winter Olympics on Peacock

Here’s how it all went down in this winner-take-all game.

Women’s hockey Olympic medals

The medal results for the women’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics are as such:

Gold: United States.
Silver: Canada.
Bronze: Switzerland.

Hilary Knight on Olympic retirement: ‘We’ll see’

Soon after scoring the game-tying goal, arguably the biggest goal of her career, Team USA captain Hilary Knight was asked in a post-game interview if she had just played her final Olympic game.

“We’ll see,” she responded.

Knight had previously said that the 2026 games would be her last Olympics, but it appears that decision has not been solidified.

Megan Keller goal highlight

Megan Keller’s goal won the gold medal for the United States. Watch it here.

Megan Keller scores goal in OT, USA wins gold

FINAL: USA 2, Canada 1.

Farmington Hills native Megan Keller scored the gold-medal winning goal on a breakaway, finishing off the U.S.’s come-from-behind victory over Canada.

The U.S. wins their third Olympic women’s hockey gold medal while Canada finishes with silver.

Overtime period starting

Start OT: USA 1, Canada 1.

The U.S. and Canada enter overtime with a gold medal on the line. Whoever scores next will stand atop the podium.

Hilary Knight goal highlight

Hilary Knight’s third-period goal sent the game to overtime, broke records and may go down as one of the biggest goals in the history of U.S. hockey. Watch it here.

Olympic hockey overtime rules

For those of you hoping for a shootout, you’re out of luck.

The U.S. and Canada will play 3-on-3 hockey with the first goal winning the game. If the game is tied after a 20-minute overtime period, there will be a 15-minute intermission, the teams will change sides and a new period will start. There will be no shootout.

Hilary Knight breaks Olympic points record

Hilary Knight’s game-tying goal late in the third period gave the U.S. captain the record for most points scored in the history of women’s Olympic hockey. She also has the most career goals in U.S. Olympic women’s hockey history (15) with the score.

USA vs Canada going to overtime

End regulation: USA 1, Canada 1.

The U.S.’s desperation play with an empty net got the needed goal, and we are headed to overtime in the gold-medal game.

Next goal wins it all.

Hilary Knight ties game

3rd period, 2:04: USA 1, Canada 1.

The extra skater worked.

U.S. captain Hilary Knight scored the game-tying goal for the U.S. with two minutes left in the third period. The U.S. stays alive.

U.S. goes empty net

3rd period, 2:23: Canada 1, USA 0.

With two minutes left in the game, the U.S. has pulled its goalie for an extra skater, needing a goal to stay alive.

Canada on the power play

3rd period, 6:23: Canada 1, USA 0.

A boarding penalty called on U.S. forward Britta Curl-Salemme gives Canada the extra-player advantage for two crucial minutes late in the third period. It will be Canada’s third power play of the game, with the U.S. killing the penalty on the other two.

Nine minutes left

3rd period, 8:48: Canada 1, USA 0.

No scores in this period so far, with Canada’s second-period goal still the difference. Canada is nine minutes away from a sixth gold medal.

USA still without a goal

3rd period, 13:58: Canada 1, USA 0.

There’s still plenty of time left for the U.S. to come up with the game-tying goal, but Canada continues to outplay its biggest rival six minutes into the third period. Team Canada is 14 minutes away from a gold medal, if they can hold onto this slim lead.

Canada ends 2nd period with momentum

End 2nd period: Canada 1, USA 0.

Canada launched an offensive onslaught in the last five minutes of the second period, at one point putting four straight shots on goal in the same shift. The U.S. has had plenty of opportunities on goal, but Canada appears to have the momentum heading into the third period.

The U.S. has been the most dominant team the entire tournament, but they are 20 minutes away from watching the gold medal slip away.

USA outshooting Canada, but Canada still leading

2nd period, 5:47: Canada 1, USA 0.

The U.S. offense has picked up quite a bit in the second period, with the U.S. now outshooting Canada 16 to 11. However, the U.S. hasn’t gotten the puck over the goal line as Canada maintains a 1-0 lead late in the second period.

USA applying offensive pressure

2nd period, 11:55: Canada 1, USA 0.

U.S. forward Hannah Bilka got a clear opportunity in front of the net about five minutes into the second period, but skied a shot above the glass in a wasted opportunity to tie the game. A few minutes later, a last-ditch shot by U.S. captain Hilary Knight from the behind the goal line hit the side post, which led to Team USA pressing more in their offensive zone.

Canada and the U.S. are even on shot attempts at 11-11, but Canada maintains a 1-0 lead midway through the second period.

Canada scores shorthanded goal

2nd period, 19:06: Canada 1, USA 0.

With the U.S. in a power play early in the second period, Canadian forward Laura Stacey picked up the puck in the U.S. offensive zone, found forward Kristin O’Neill on a pass and O’Neill buried the goal.

Canada leads 1-0.

USA ends first period on power play

End 1st period: USA 0, Canada 0.

If this were a boxing match, Canada would take the first round.

The Canadians lead the U.S. on shots, 8-6, while Canada has benefitted from two power plays in the period to the U.S.’s one. However, staunch defense and a few good saves from U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel have this game scoreless.

U.S. forward Britta Curl-Salemme drew a hooking penalty on Canada defender Ella Shelton with 14 seconds left in the period, but the U.S. couldn’t score on the extra-player advantage before the horn sounded. The U.S. will still be in a power play when the second period begins.

Canada again on the power play

1st period, 4:55: USA 0, Canada 0.

Team USA forward Joy Dunne was called for tipping on Canada defender Erin Ambrose, giving Canada its second power play of the game.

Canada applying the pressure, still no score

1st period, 6:34: USA 0, Canada 0.

The U.S. defense did well on the penalty kill and has mostly kept Canada away from the net, but the offense hasn’t had put opportunities on goal since the first few minutes of the game. Canada is up 5-4 on shots as the score is even at zero.

The U.S. has won seven games in a row against its biggest rival, but with Canada holding its own, this is looking like the prize fight we’ve gotten from previous matchups.

Canada on the power play

1st period. 14:27: USA 0, Canada 0.

The U.S. has gotten four shots off but only one sincere chance at goal, with Abbey Murphy getting a shot on goal on a breakaway. Meanwhile, Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin had a good opportunity at goal four minutes in, but couldn’t find the net.

The U.S. was assessed a penalty for too many players on the ice, giving Canada its first power play of the game.

Puck has dropped

The biggest women’s hockey game of the year is underway.

USA women’s hockey wearing blue

The U.S. women wore white in their preliminary-round game with Canada, and it appears they will be wearing blue in the gold-medal game.

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