Megan Keller scored in sudden-death overtime Thursday to deliver the United States a spectacular 2-1 victory over Canada, clinching the Winter Olympic women's ice hockey gold medal in one of the most dramatic finales in the sport's history. The game-winning goal, buried past Canadian goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens with just over three minutes remaining in the extra period, secured America's first Olympic gold in women's hockey since 2018.

A Rivalry for the Ages

The USA-Canada women's hockey rivalry is arguably the most intense in Olympic sports, with the two North American powers having met in six consecutive Olympic finals. Thursday's clash lived up to the billing, featuring end-to-end action, spectacular goaltending, and the kind of tension that defines championship hockey.

This is what dreams are made of, said Keller, the 28-year-old defenseman from Farmington Hills, Michigan. To score that goal against Canada, in overtime, for gold it's something I have visualized since I was a kid.

The Dramatic Finish

Canada opened the scoring midway through the second period when captain Marie-Philip Poulin converted a power play opportunity. The Americans equalized early in the third period when Hilary Knight deflected a point shot past Desbiens, setting the stage for a tense final frame.

The extra period featured 3-on-3 open ice, creating the kind of space that favors skilled players. Both teams traded rushes before Keller capitalized on a defensive miscue, walking off the boards and ripping a wrist shot into the top corner.

Redemption Complete

The victory completed a redemption arc for an American squad that had endured disappointment in Beijing 2022, settling for silver after a shootout loss to Canada. For many veterans including Knight, competing in her fifth Olympics, the gold represented a career-capping achievement.

The American players celebrated on the ice for nearly an hour, soaking in the moment and acknowledging the small but vocal contingent of U.S. fans who had made the journey to Italy.

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