US women's hockey defeats Canada in a shootout, wins Olympic gold for first time since 1998

Harry How/Getty Images(PYEONGCHANG, South Korea) — The Canadian women’s hockey team had won the gold medal in the last four Olympics, three of the four coming over the United States, including a 3-2 overtime victory in Sochi in 2014. The two met again in the finals this year, but this time it was the United States who won the gold for the first time since 1998 in Nagano, when they beat Canada.

The United States had three power plays in the first period with nothing to show for it, but in the waning minutes of the first Hilary Knight’s deflection with the woman advantage gave the United States a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

Canada game out firing in the second, scoring two goals to take a 2-1 lead. In the third, the United States struggled to get anything done offensively, until Monique Lamorueux-Morando find open ice and converted on a breakaway to to the game at two all.

Both teams were unable to find the back of the net in overtime, so the game went to a shootout. The U.S. opened the shootout with a goal by Gigi Marvin, but that was answered in the second round by Meghan Agosta to even the score at one. In the fourth round, Melodie Daoust scored for Canada to give them the lead, but Amanda Kessel answered right back for the United States.

After five rounds it was a 2-2 tie, and teams were allowed to use previous shooters for the first time. The United States went with Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, who put Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados on her stomach with a tremendous deke to give the United States the lead. Canada went with Agosta again, but 20-year-old American Maddie Rooney shut the door to win the game for the United States.

The victory snapped a two-loss losing streak for the Americans at the Olympics against their northern rivals, and comes 38 years to the day that the 1980 U.S. men’s hockey team shocked the world to defeat the Soviet Union to advance to the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. No miracle here, but Olympic gold for the United States.

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