The Winter Olympics gold medal game between Team USA and Canada in women’s hockey was a heavyweight fight for the ages that took overtime to settle. Team USA’s Megan Keller played the ultimate role of hero, getting the puck on a breakaway and slotting home the shot to give USA the gold medal.
Canada was the dominant team for much of the game, regardless of how it appeared close because of shot totals. Team USA wasn’t able to generate a lot of quality looks with a suffocating Canada defense clogging up passing lanes, blocking shots, and preventing the U.S. from crashing the net to generate second-chance opportunities.
It was a game that required a spark, and it came late for Team USA in the most dramatic fashion as Laila Edwards got a clean shot with a pulled goalie and an extra attacker, which was redirected by captain Hilary Knight to become Team USA’s all-time leading Olympic goal scorer.
The goal signified a massive momentum shift, with Canada appearing to be on tired legs while USA got the surge of adrenaline it needed. Entering 3v3 overtime, the energy was all behind the United States, with Canada playing scared, struggling to control the puck, and their only two overtime chances coming off missteps by Team USA.
Pushing the tempo during a Canada shift change, the U.S. was able to get a breakaway for Megan Keller off a long pass, which she slotted home on a brilliant drag to give Team USA the win and the gold medal.
It was an absolutely staggering performance for the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team that prevailed through adversity in the final to prove they really were that good. In the lead up to the games they were the team to beat, dominating Canada and the field to become the best team in the world — but getting that ranking, and winning gold are very different stories. Now there’s no doubt: Team USA is the best in the world.
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