“If you had to play against her and practice against her, Megan Keller can really do it all,” veteran defenseman Lee Stecklein said. “To see that move under pressure like that, just incredible.”
That moment wouldn’t have been possible without Knight, who deflected a shot from defenseman Laila Edwards with the goalie pulled for the game-tying goal with 2:04 remaining in the third period to give life to Team USA.
“I remember [coach John Wroblewski] drawing it up,” Knight said. “And I was like, ‘Yeah, this is our moment. Here we go.'”
The U.S. had allowed only one goal all tournament before Canada fourth-liner Kristen O’Neill scored short-handed early in the second period of Thursday’s finale.
This was the final Olympic game for the 36-year-old Knight, who with her second gold medal became the most decorated player in U.S. women’s hockey history. She announced in May that these Games — her fifth — would be her last.
“I’ve had a heck of a career personally. It’s been an incredible ride,” Knight said. “I have to soak this all in because this room is just so special, this team is so special. This is the best U.S. hockey team I’ve ever been a part of. That is just so tremendous.”
Knight’s third-period tally moved her into sole possession atop the U.S. record book (men’s or women’s) for goals (15) and points (33) in an Olympic career. She had a memorable tournament in Italy, proposing to her partner, U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe, two days before the gold medal match.
“Poetic. I said it yesterday, Hilary always goes out with a bang,” longtime teammate Kendall Coyne Schofield said. “From her proposal that had me falling off a chair to her record-breaking goal, you couldn’t script it any better.”
Another common refrain from U.S. players after the game: “Classic Hilary.”
“I think that’s the perfect way for her to break the record,” Stecklein said. “She carries that pressure, and she knows we’re relying on her. If it wasn’t her, I do believe it could have been someone else. But also, it’s so not surprising for it to be her because that’s just who she is and who she’s always been.”
The U.S. roster featured a strong blend of veterans and breakout young players, and the 2026 Games represented a passing of the torch. Wisconsin seniors Caroline Harvey and Edwards, who had a combined 18 points and were the top two U.S. skaters in terms of ice time, are among the U.S. team members who have photos from their childhood posing with Knight.
The United States gave up only two goals in the tournament, tying the 2006 and 2010 Canada teams for the fewest allowed in a single Olympics by a women’s team.
U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel made 30 saves Thursday, some spectacular, but didn’t get the offensive support as Team USA continually missed opportunities in regulation until Knight capitalized.
Frankel had a terrific tournament, finishing with a .980 save percentage and becoming the first goalie in Olympic history to record three shutouts in one tournament.
Entering Thursday, Team USA had scored at least five goals in every game and had outscored teams 31-1. But for long stretches in the gold medal match, the U.S. looked more jittery than it had in any previous moment at these Olympics.
The win cemented a dominant tournament for the American women. The U.S. was the deepest team, and 10 players registered at least five points — six more than any other country.
“I’ve been on some great teams, with a lot of great teammates, great players, Hall of Famers,” four-time Olympian Coyne Schofield told ESPN before the game. “But this one is special for sure.”
The rest of the world just hasn’t caught up to the United States and Canada. The North American powers have won every gold and silver medal since women’s hockey was introduced at the Olympics in 1998.
The result in Milan wasn’t too surprising after Team USA swept the four-game Rivalry Series in the lead-up to the Olympics by a combined score of 24-7. The U.S. entered the final by posting five straight shutouts — including a 5-0 blanking of Canada in group stage play. The Canadians, however, were without captain Marie-Philip Poulin (right knee injury) for that contest, and she appeared to be still nursing the injury, especially as broadcast cameras captured her getting rides from the locker room to the ice in the semifinal.
Poulin had scored in each of her previous four career Olympic gold medal games but was held off the score sheet Thursday.
“Utmost respect for her,” Knight said. “I think you saw that going through the handshake line, just embracing and understanding we have so many things in common. The only difference is we’re on the other side of these teams and some legendary performances. I’ll miss it.”