MILAN (AP) — Taylor Heise was tired and knew Megan Keller could skate fast. The final result was a golden goal in extra time. USA scores impressive victory over Canada The women’s hockey final at the Milan-Cortina Olympics was held on Thursday night.
Keller’s 3-on-3 goal 4:07 into overtime was a highlight-reel masterpiece from start to finish.
It started with a perfect nearly 100-foot outlet pass from Heise behind his own goal line to Keller just beyond the red line in center field.
“Meg was flying across the ice,” Heise said. “She asked for the pack and I wanted to be a little different so I gave her the pack.”
Keller did the rest. With the puck on her forehand, she completely defeated defender Claire Thompson on her backhand.
“When she got the puck, I thought, ‘I know where she’s going to score,’ and she did,” said Keller’s teammate Alina Muller of Switzerland, who scored her country’s bronze medal-winning goal earlier in the day in Boston’s PWHL. “It’s a pretty bad move for a defender.”
After talking with his teammates before overtime about playing to win and not to lose, Keller calmed his nerves as he entered the offensive zone.
“People often get a little nervous when they try to take action,” Keller said. “Heise made a great pass to me and I saw one defender and thought, ‘Why not?'” Try to give her a chance and get to the net. ”
Thompson’s victory put Keller one-on-one with Canadian goaltender Anne-Reny Desbiances. Anne Leny Desbiances played great throughout regulation, making it such a competitive game. This move put Desbiance in a difficult situation.
“Obviously, when she cuts down the middle on a backhand shot, it’s very hard to predict where it’s going to fly,” Desbiens said. “I was reaching out and obviously it made a squeak.”
Heise skated to the bench and never even saw Keller take a shot or score. She knew from the reactions of other U.S. players that the puck had gone into the net.
“That’s all that matters,” Heise said. “People were already raising their arms and throwing their helmets, and I quickly turned around and took off my gloves. I couldn’t take my helmet off, so I just skated among everyone.”
Lila Edwards is Shot deflected by Hilary Knight With Canada in the lead and 2:04 to go, all eyes were on the game.
“Yeah, I saw it,” Edwards said. “I saw it. It was unbelievable. I thought it was Connor McDavid there. I wasn’t surprised because I know she keeps things like that inside her, but I’m so proud of her and I love playing with her.”
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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-Winter-olympics
