Team Canada has won the 2022 women’s Olympic hockey gold medal with a 3-2 victory over the rival United States. The win is Canada’s fifth gold since the sport was added in 1998. The United States has won the other two golds in the seven times the tournament has been held. Canada gets revenge for its shootout loss to the U.S. in the 2018 Olympics.
Canada Takes 2022 Women’s Olympic Hockey Crown
First Period
The Americans almost grabbed the lead early thanks Hannah Brandt, but her shot hit the outside of the post. Canada almost got on the board thanks to Natalie Spooner, but her goal was deemed offside. The recent IIHF World Champions broke through thanks to Sarah Nurse shortly after the disallowed goal.
Canada got a second goal thanks to star Marie-Philip Poulin after she got control of the puck. Ann-Renee Desbiens was able to see traffic in front of the net and keep the Americans off the board.
Second Period
Team USA tried applying pressure in the second fame, but couldn’t come up with anything. Canada almost got the three-goal lead with just over 12 minutes to play, but U.S. Cavallini stopped Spooner at the doorstep.
Poulin gave Canada a three-goal lead after stuffing home a rebound off the skate of Cavallini. It’s the seventh goal in four gold medal games for the star forward. The Americans kept applying pressure to get back in the game, but came away empty. USA got a power play. but once again came up empty like they have most of the tournament.
Hilary Knight finally solved Desbiens with a shorthanded goal to put the Americans within, 3-1.
Third Period
Alex Carpenter hit the post as the Americans were trying to use the forecheck to apply pressure. Carpenter had another opportunity, but was denied by Desbiens.
The Americans threw their top two lines out for lots of ice time. However, they weren’t able to get that goal to get within one. Team USA got a power play just under 10 minutes left to play in regulation, but weren’t able to convert.
Cavallini went to the bench with over three minutes to play. The U.S. got another power play with 1:25 to go and Amanda Kessel got the goal to make it 3-2 with 12.5 seconds left.
What It Means
Canada gets it gold back from its archrival after losing one of the most exhilarating games in women’s hockey history. The Canadians showed how dominant they were the entire tournament as they swept both meetings. Canada won the preliminary round meeting over the Americans, 4-2.
The U.S. will wonder what the results may have been if Brianna Decker wasn’t injured. She likely wouldn’t have been able to stem the tide, but it would have give the USA another key scorer.
