For the second straight Winter Olympics gold medal game, extra time was needed to settle the latest battle between the two rivals, but this time it went to a shootout.
The United States could be blamed if they were suffering another case of deja vu. They were tied 2-2 with Canada on a four-on-three power play in overtime.
But this time, they were able to hold Canada at bay and fight back and finally get back on the top step of the podium for the first time in 20 years with a 3-2 win in a shootout. Jocelyne Lamoureux scored the winning goal in the shootout after her sister Monique Lamoureux tied the game with 6:21 remaining in regulation.
It was the third straight gold medal game between the two teams that needed extra time, dating back to the 2016 World Championships. Including Sochi, four of the last five gold medal games and six of the last nine (Olympics and World Championships) have needed extra time. But this was the first to go to a shootout.
Both goaltenders were great in this one. Canada’s Shannon Szabados made 39 saves while the USA’s Maddie Rooney, only 20 years old, made 29. Rooney was born months before the United States won gold in Nagano. The United States outshot Canada 41-31.
Both teams would get chances to start the four-on-four overtime period but both goaltenders kept the game going. There were also several chances that went just wide. The best chance was a blocker save by Szabados on Megan Keller with just over six minutes remaining.
Canada would get a power play with 1:35 remaining when Keller hauled down Marie-Philip Poulin and was called for an illegal hit.
On the power play, Canada would hit the post but that was as close as they could come as the game went to a shootout.
After slow start to the game, Canada would finally get their first shot as Blayre Turnbull just under four minutes in. The shot was turned away by Rooney.
Canada would have a couple of other chances in the first period. Natalie Spooner would drive down the right side and fire a pass to Haley Irwin but they couldn’t connect in front of Rooney. After the first of three USA power plays, Melodie Daoust would take a shot that went wide and the rebound off the end boards would go to Brianne Jenner, but Rooney dove across to make the save.
Marie-Philip Poulin took a shot from the slot that was also saved by Rooney. Rooney lost control but the puck was cleared
The Americans would finally score and open the scoring on their third power play chance. With 25.4 sec left Hilary Knight tipped a Sidney Morin wrist shot that beat Szabados.
Canada would tie the game two minutes into the second period when Blayre Turnbull would break down the right wing and fire an unbelievable saucer pass that was tipped by Irwin.
#CAN IS ON THE BOARD
Haley Irwin scores and we’re all tied up at 1
WATCH: https://t.co/V974X6M8Ms pic.twitter.com/9lsPCtKMBl
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
The goal happened seconds after the Americans hauled down a Canadian, but the only penalties would be called against Canada.
#CAN is getting all the penalties so far.
First, there’s a non-call on #USA‘s Cayla Barnes but later a tripping penalty on #CAN captain Marie-Philip Poulin 🤷♀️
WATCH: https://t.co/V974X6M8Ms pic.twitter.com/nm92KvJ4EF
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
Eighteen seconds after the goal, Poulin would take a tripping penalty. It would be the fourth straight penalty called on Team Canada.
They would take the lead just under five minutes later when Poulin took a pass from Meghan Agosta and fired a wrist shot past Rooney to make it 2-1. It is her fifth goal in Olympic gold medal games dating back to Vancouver 2010.
OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN 🏒
Marie-Philip Poulin puts Canada up 2-1 in the 🥇 medal game
WATCH: https://t.co/V974X6M8Ms pic.twitter.com/oB79ycIHzN
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 22, 2018
The Americans would have a chance to tie the game again, but Jocelyne Lamoureux missed the net as Szabados scrambled over to make the save. Shortly after, a Knight shot was tipped in front by Canadian defender Laura Fortino, but Szabados made a great glove save.
Canada would finally get their first power play with eight minutes remaining in the second period, when Sidney Morin went off for an illegal hit. The Canadians would get some chances on the ensuing power play but were not able to extend their lead.
The third period started off with some back-and-forth chances in the opening five minutes. Daoust had a great chance in front, but Rooney made the save and then Knight and Brianna Decker came back on a two-on-one. Szabados was able to make the save and then Poulin hit Decker hard. There should have been a penalty on the play, but no call was made.
After the hit, the Americans put a lot of pressure on Canada and Szabados, like they did in the preliminary round, but Szabados stood tall every time.
With under seven minutes remaining, Laura Stacey had a chance that was saved by Rooney and the play came back the other way and Monique Lamoureux, who was one of the best players on the ice all game, got a breakaway and beat Szabados to tie the game at 2-2.
Less than two minutes later, Dani Cameranesi had a golden chance to get the lead back for the Americans but Szabados made the big save.
The Americans would get their sixth penalty seconds later when Emily Clark was called for tripping with only 4:11 remaining.
