Canada's streak is finally over.
It took a shootout, but Jocelyne Lamoureux's goal as the sixth U.S. shooter gave the U.S. its first women's hockey gold medal in 20 years. It also denied Canada a fifth straight Olympic gold medal.
Advertisement
.@TeamUSA IS GOLDEN!
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
The @usahockey women take down rival Canada for their first gold since 1998! #WinterOlympics #BestOfUS https://t.co/wS6s9ulmoA pic.twitter.com/o4gJr8g7sV
After Lamoureux's goal, Maddie Rooney had to stop a shot from Meghan Agosta and knocked it aside to set off a raucous celebration for Team USA, which was able to shed years of frustration.
The United States won the inaugural gold medal in women's hockey during the 1998 Winter Olympics. The U.S. had a trio of silver medals and a bronze since. Preventing Team USA from winning gold in those three silver-medal efforts was Canada. Even in 2006, when the U.S. did not face Canada and beat Finland for the bronze medal, the Canadians again captured gold with a 4-1 win over Sweden.
Team USA struck first Thursday as Hilary Knight capitalized on a power play by tipping the puck by Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados with 25.4 seconds remaining in the first period.
.@TeamUSA STRIKES FIRST!
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
A beautiful redirect by @HilaryKnight puts the @usahockey women up 1-0 in the gold medal game! #WinterOlympics https://t.co/R7Kzi4a9HS pic.twitter.com/kxkPJdlIEL
"We want to put pucks in the back of the net and it always feels good to do that," Knight told NBC Sports.
It didn't take long for Canada to put a puck in the back of the net to tie things up. Haley Irwin deflected a soaring puck in front of the net and past U.S. keeper Maddie Rooney. The Canadians grabbed a 2-1 lead thanks to Agosta's perfect feed to Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who notched her fifth career gold-medal game.
MARIE-PHILIP POULIN! TEAM CANADA TAKES THE 2-1 LEAD! pic.twitter.com/qjfWMUfc7B
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) February 22, 2018
The U.S. got the equalizer with 6:41 remaining in the third as Monique Lamoureux scored on a transition goal. Lamoureux went glove-side to beat Szabados and tie it up.
TIE GAME!
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
A nice save leads to a breakaway goal by @moniquelam7 to knot @TeamUSA @usahockey women and Canada at 2 late in the third! #WinterOlympics https://t.co/R7Kzi4a9HS pic.twitter.com/1SG7VQfW68
That goal ended up forcing overtime and the U.S. had a great opportunity to win it with 6:37 in the extra period. Megan Keller had a one-on-one with Szabados, but the Canadian keeper was up to the task.
