Final score — Shootout: United States 3, Canada 2

Team USA topped Canada, 3-2, in a shootout for its first Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey since 1998. Hilary Knight and Monique Lamoureux scored in regulation before the team came through in the shootout behind scores from Jocelyn Lamoureux, Amanda Kessel, and Gigi Marvin.

The victory avenges the Americans’ brutal loss to the Canadians in the Olympic gold medal game four years ago in Sochi. This time around, the team rallied from a 2-1 deficit entering the third period behind a clutch breakaway goal from Lamoureux.

The players involved on Team USA have said repeatedly over the past couple days that this was the biggest game of their lives. Now they get to leave it victorious after a thrilling performance against a stellar opponent.

Canada attempt No. 6: NO GOAL

United States attempt No. 6: GOAL — Jocelyn Lamoureux

LAMOUREUX’S WINNER. USA GETS GOLD pic.twitter.com/zzPWyilraE — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) February 22, 2018

Magnificent.

United States attempt No. 5: NO GOAL

Canada attempt No. 5: NO GOAL

United States attempt No. 4: GOAL — Amanda Kessel

Canada attempt No. 4: GOAL — Melodie Daoust

United States attempt No. 3: NO GOAL

Canada attempt No. 3: NO GOAL

United States attempt No. 2: NO GOAL

Canada attempt No. 2: GOAL — Meghan Agosta

United States attempt No. 1: GOAL — Gigi Marvin

Canada attempt No. 1: NO GOAL

End of overtime: Canada 2, United States 2

Canada 2, United States 2: Well, that was ... something. Overtime is over in Pyeongchang without a goal so we’re heading to a shootout. Yes, the 2018 women’s hockey Olympic gold will be decided in a shootout.

Canada 2, United States 2: I’M NOT BREATHING LOUD, YOU’RE BREATHING LOUD

Canada 2, United States 2: A brutal penalty by Megan Keller puts the Canadians on the power play for the remaining 1:35 of the overtime. It’s all hands on deck for the U.S. to survive these 95 seconds of 4-on-3 action and push this game into a shootout. Yes, we’re at the point where a shootout wouldn’t be so bad.

Canada 2, United States 2: Basically this.

USA HAS NINE SHOTS IN OT 41 THIS GAME. HAVE WE CONSIDERED THAT SHANNON SZABADOS IS NOT HUMAN. — The Ice Garden (@TheIceGarden) February 22, 2018

Canada 2, United States 2: Social media is increasingly becoming a nervous wreck as these two teams battle it out in the overtime. The added extra space hasn’t really led to the big offensive chances you see in NHL OT because the defenses have been good at staying back and avoiding odd-man rushes. It may take a lucky bounce or rebound for somebody to win this game before the shootout.

Canada 2, United States 2: Not the post!!! The Americans just hit a post early in the overtime on a shot that could’ve ended the game. Surely that won’t give flashbacks to four years ago in Sochi.

Canada 2, United States 2: Here’s how overtime works: The teams will play a 20-minute period of sudden death 4-on-4 hockey. If the game is still tied at the end of those 20 minutes, then we’ll head to a shootout.

End of regulation: Canada 2, United States 2

Canada 2, United States 2: Canada has survived the United States power play to keep it tied with less than two minutes in regulation. This may not quite match the finish that we saw in Sochi four years ago but it’s going down to the wire all the same.

Canada 2, United States 2: Here comes the United States’ sixth power play of the game as a result of a tripping penalty by Emily Clark. Safe to say that the pressure is on for both sides’ special teams with less than four minutes remaining in regulation.

Canada 2, United States 2: Monique Lamoureux may have just saved the day for the Americans with a monster breakaway goal to tie the game. The play came immediately out of a failed 2-on-1 and a poor line change by Canada, which freed Lamoureux by herself in the offensive zone. The next few minutes are going to be wild.

TIE GAME!



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 — NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 22, 2018

Canada 2, United States 1: The pace is beginning to pick up in the second half of the third period as Team USA pushes for a game-tying goal. The U.S. always likes to play with speed and it may take a rebound off a rush or something of that ilk to finally break Shannon Szabados again. The Americans currently lead, 26-20, in shots on goal.

Canada 2, United States 1: A huge save by Maddie Rooney led to a 2-on-1 rush for the U.S. on the other end that ended with Brianna Decker getting shoved to the ground by Marie-Philip Poulin. It was a physical defensive play that surprisingly didn’t garner a penalty even though the goaltender had poked free the puck during the sequence. The U.S. coach clearly was not happy with the explanation he got for the non-penalty call on Poulin.

Checking is illegal but apparently this is cool pic.twitter.com/EsUFgVbzSd — Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) February 22, 2018

Second period: Canada 2, United States 1

Canada 2, United States 1: The Canadian penalty kill remains a game-changer in the final. They’re moving their feet, blocking shots, and preventing big rebound opportunities. The U.S. has recorded just nine shots on goal over five power plays.

Canada 2, United States 1: ANOTHER power play for the Americans, this time the result of a slashing penalty by Maddie Daoust. They need to find more ways to generate rebounds and activity in front of the net rather than being relegated to dishing the puck around the perimeter like we’ve seen a lot so far. It’s time to grind.

Canada 2, United States 1: The legendary Marie-Philip Poulin more than made good for her tripping penalty earlier in the period by firing home a gorgeous short side one-timer to beat Maddie Rooney for the lead. This was always the danger of the Americans’ inability to convert on all those power plays earlier on.

Now Canada has weathered those problems and come out with a lead thanks to its captain. They’re happy about it:

United States 1, Canada 1: Canada was able to successfully kill another penalty despite needing a couple good saves from Shannon Szabados. You have to imagine the team will take going 3-of-4 on PK attempts given how those power plays could’ve put it in a big hole.

United States 1, Canada 1: The game is all tied up again after Haley Irwin scored on a rush following a questionable pinch by Lee Stecklein. Irwin was able to make a miraculous play to get a stick on the puck that allowed it to slip through goaltender Maddie Rooney, who seemed to have solid positioning on the play.

However, Canada immediately followed up the goal with a tripping penalty on Marie-Philip Poulin, so the U.S. has another chance on the power play to get back the lead.

First period: United States 1, Canada 0

United States 1, Canada 0: The third time was the charm!!! Hilary Knight broke through on the third U.S. power play of the game with a deflection goal right in front of Shannon Szabados.

That’s the kind of clutch play that’s made Knight such a big deal and it gives the team a one-goal advantage through 20 minutes in the final. “Obviously it’s the biggest game of our lives,” Knight told NBC’s Pierre McGuire during the intermission.

The Americans lead in shots on goal, 10-7, although that’s not particularly impressive given how much time they’ve spent with an additional player on the ice. More importantly, they have a lead that can be built on over the upcoming two periods.

Canadian ice skater Scott Moir is NOT THRILLED:

Scott Moir ain't happy folks. pic.twitter.com/GvDcPKYs6N — Levi Flaman (@LeviFlaman) February 22, 2018

United States 0, Canada 0: Canada deserves a lot of credit for its penalty killing in the first period, which could’ve led to disaster with the U.S. having four minutes on the power play. However, the Americans were not only unable to score, but didn’t really threaten much during those sequence, either. Don’t be surprised if these moments come up later on if the U.S. is still searching for goals.

Also, if you’re wondering what the crowd in Pyeongchang looks like, it’s not great ... but apparently still better than the USA men’s game 24 hours ago.

The usual empty seats here but my @usatodaysports colleague @ByKevinAllen says this crowd is much bigger than yesterday’s USA-Czech Republic men’s crowd. pic.twitter.com/XQyMoFgAYt — Christine Brennan (@cbrennansports) February 22, 2018

United States 0, Canada 0: Coming off the Americans’ power play, Canada had its most dangerous sequence of the game with Maddie Rooney briefly losing her positioning in the blue paint. The U.S. was able to recover and settle back in without giving up a goal, then it just drew another penalty on Jocelyne Larocque. This power play is a big chance for the red, white, and blue.

United States 0, Canada 0: Team USA earned the game’s first power play on an illegal hit penalty from Jennifer Wakefield, but it was unable to generate much pressure despite extended time in the offensive zone.

United States 0, Canada 0: Kali Flanagan made a great play in front of the U.S. net to prevent a potential deflection that could’ve led to a goal. Being strong in those tight areas in front of the net will be crucial to the Americans’ ability to keep Canada off the scoreboard in this game, especially with a young goaltender between the pipes.

United States 0, Canada 0: It took nearly four minutes before either team recorded a shot on goal in the game. U.S. netminder Maddie Rooney had no trouble stopping a wraparound attempt to keep it scoreless early on.

United States 0, Canada 0: The puck drop is here! Can the U.S. finally end Canada’s run of Olympic gold medals? We’ll find out in a few hours. Team USA men’s hockey coach Tony Granato is pumped:

The puck has dropped!!! pic.twitter.com/aUJOTWrRs5 — Coach Tony Granato (@TonyGranato) February 22, 2018

Before the game

It’s been a long four years since the thrilling end in Sochi, and now we’re finally ready for Team USA to face Canada again for Olympic gold in women’s hockey. The two teams meet in Pyeongchang at 11:10 p.m. ET in what’s sure to be one of the most exciting events of the entire Winter Games.

The rivalry between the U.S. and Canada has been brewing for two decades to become one of the most intense in international sports. These two teams regularly face off in the biggest of competitions, and while the rest of the world is slowly catching up in terms of talent, there’s no doubt that women’s hockey still goes through North America.

Canada went unbeaten in the group stage with a 3-0-0-0 record that included a 2-1 win over the U.S. The Americans went 2-0-0-1 with their only defeat coming in that game against the Canadians.

The playoff stage did little to shake the confidence of either team with identical results. Canada crushed Olympic Athletes from Russia, 5-0, to book its spot in the gold medal game, while Team USA rolled over Finland and star goaltender Noora Raty in a 5-0 win to do the same. The Americans outshot the Finns, 38-14, in the semifinal.

Dani Cameranesi leads the U.S. with five points in four games, while Canada is led by Melodie Daoust’s six points in four games. The gold medal game will also feature the tournament’s top two goaltenders in Canada’s Shannon Szabados (.973 save percentage) and USA’s Maddie Rooney (.951 save percentage).

This is as high as the stakes get, so it should be a fun night of hockey. We’ll see if the Americans can end Canada’s run of four straight Olympic golds and bring home the medal themselves for the first time since 1998.

How to watch USA vs. Canada, 2018 Olympic gold medal game

Time: 11:10 p.m. ET

Where: Gangneung Hockey Centre, Gangneung, South Korea

TV: NBCSN

Live stream: NBC Olympics