The Canadian women’s team shocked Team USA by scoring three unanswered goals in the third period and overtime to capture the gold medal in women’s ice hockey.
FINAL SCORE: Canada 3, USA 2
With the thrilling victory, the Canadiens added to the gold medal they won in Curling earlier today.
Watch the medal ceremony below.
British ref Joy Johnston takes charge of the women's final at #sochi2014.She nearly quit the sport 3 years ago. pic.twitter.com/0WHDMlqR9v
— Seth Bennett (@Sethb45) February 20, 2014
The game was officiated by British ref Joy Johnston. She told the BBC, “It’s pretty awesome. My emotions are still running high. I’ve had a couple of days to prepares myself, but I want to go out there and do the best game I possibly can.”
Here’s a complete breakdown of the gold-medal action between the U.S. and Canada, including all the best highlights, GIFs and videos:
1. U.S. Gets First Power Play
Team USA got the game’s first power play. Tara Watchhorn was sent to the box for body checking two minutes into the game. The U.S. generated five shots on goal during the one-woman advantage, but failed to score on Canadian goalie Shannon Szabados.
Time: 2:01, 1st Period
2. Another Power Play for Team USA
(Getty)
Katey Stone’s team earns yet another power play after Canada’s Meaghan Mikkelson was called for roughing. Again Team USA peppered the net with shots, but failed to fool Shannon Szabados.
Time: 6:13, 1st Period
3. Canada Earns Its First Power Play
Jessie Vetter saves from Natalie Spooner. (Getty)
After 13 seconds of 4-on-4 hockey, Canada got its first one-player advantage when Hilary Knight was called for cross checking. As we head back to full strength, 5-on-5 hockey, the score still remains 0-0.
Time: 8:01, 1st Period
4. Another Penalty for Watchorn: Bad Blood is Evident
Tara Watchorn of Team Canada tripping Meghan Duggan of Team USA. (Getty)
Watchorn is called for her second penalty of the game — this time for hip checking (not allowed in the women’s game).
Tara Watchorn has to be the dumbest player I've seen in a while. There is no checking, yet she ignores this. J ust… wow. #TeamUSA #Selfish
— Wes Stull (@WesStull) February 20, 2014
Time: 14:04, 1st Period
5. Power Play Galore: Team USA Called for Penalty After Bad Line Change
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Kacey Bellamy took a good penalty for holding Haley Irwin, who was off on a breakaway.
Time: 15:30, 1st Period
6. USA Outshoots Canada 11 to 9 in 1st Period
The USA outshot Canada 11 to 9 in the first period. The score still remains 0-0, however, as both goalies, Canada’s Shannon Szabados and America’s Jessie Vetter, have stopped everything that has come their way.
Anne Schleper said at the intermission that the U.S. should be more physical in the second period — it throws Canada off its game.
7. U.S. Called for First Penalty of 2nd Period
Kelli Stack is called for a hooking penalty. Both teams continue to kill penalties, though, as Team Canada fails to net one on Jessie Vetter.
Time: 7:10, 2nd Period
8. GOAL! Megan Duggan Gives Team USA 1-0 Lead
Meghan Duggan celebrates opening the scoring! (Getty)
Megan Duggan sneaks a shot through traffic and past the netminder Szabados on the high glove side to give Team USA a 1-0 lead.
GOAL, USA! Meghan Duggan breaks scoreless tie for Team USA vs. Canada in Women's Hockey gold-medal game.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 20, 2014
Time: 11:57, 2nd Period
9. Canada Heads to the Power Play
After a lengthy delay, the refs determine Team USA had too many players on the ice. Canada heads to the power play, but fails to score.
Time: 12:45, 2nd period
10. Canada Fails to Cash in on Another Power Play
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Anne Schleper is called for cross checking, sending Team Canada to the power play yet again. American goalie Jessie Vetter has continued to hold strong between the pipes for the Americans, saving all 17 shots sent her way through the first 20 minutes.
11. Team USA Takes 1-0 Lead Into 3rd Period
Team USA is clinging to a one-goal lead heading into the final period of play. Can they hang on?
12. Tara Watchorn Called for Tripping
Canada’s Tara Watchorn was called for her third penalty of the game, this time tripping, just seven seconds into the third period.
Time: :07, 3rd Period
13. GOAL! Alex Carpenter Makes it 2-0
Alex Carpenter 2-0! (Getty)
Alex Carpenter extends the U.S. lead to 2-0 after netting a goal in the final seconds of the power play. The crucial score gives Carpenter her fourth goal of the Sochi Olympics.
GOAL! USA doubles the lead! Alex Carpenter scores, and Team USA leads 2-0 in 3rd period of Women's Hockey gold-medal game.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 20, 2014
Hilary Knight and Kelli Stack were credited with assists.
Time: 2:01, 3rd period
14. GOAL! Canada Cuts U.S. Lead in Half
Brianne Jenner scored to make 2-2. (Getty)
It took Canada nearly 57 minutes, but they finally got in the board late in the third period when Brianne Jenner finally snuck a shot past Jessie Vetter. U.S. leads 2-1 as we head down the stretch. We’re in for an exciting finish in Sochi.
It's now USA 2, Canada 1 in third in battle for women's hockey gold: http://t.co/JdKCuQByKo #Sochi2014. #WeAreWinter
— TorontoStar (@TorontoStar) February 20, 2014
Time: 16:34, 3rd period
15. GOAL! Canada Evens Game at 2-2
Give the Canadians credit. They just won’t go away. With Szabados looking on, Marie-Philip Poulin found the back of the net to tie the game. Canada netted two goals in 3:30 to even the score at 2-2.
Rebecca Johnston and Haley Irwin were credited with assists.
Men's hockey. Women's hockey. Any way you cut it, this gold medal game between Can and USA is classic hockey. #Sochi2014
— Mark Kiszla (@markkiszla) February 20, 2014
Time: 19:05, 3rd period
16. We’re Headed to Overtime in Sochi
For the first time in Olympic history, the gold medal game will be decided in overtime. The body language on the U.S. bench was sullen during the furious Canadian rally. Team USA must regain their composure during the overtime period if they expect to come away with the gold medal.
Regroup. Focus. Let's do this. #USAvsCanada headed into overtime. #GoTeamUSA #GoldMedalGame pic.twitter.com/0RPgX8prol
— US Olympic Team (@USOlympic) February 20, 2014
If the game isn’t decided in a 20-minute sudden death, it will head to a shootout to determine a winner.
Look how close Team USA was to winning – if only this empty-net shot had found its way into the net.
17. U.S. Heads to Overtime Power Play
The U.S. will try to end this game with a one-woman advantage. Catherine Ward heads to the box for cross-checking.
Time: 6:09, Overtime
18. U.S. Commits Untimely Slashing Penalty
In a questionable and untimely penalty call, Jocelyne Lamoureux is called for slashing – ending the U.S. adavantage.
Time: 6:15, Overtime
19. Hilary Knight Commits Cross Check on Breakaway
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Hayley Wickenheiser is pulled down by Hilary Knight, who is called for cross checking. She is very fortunate the refs didn’t award Canada with a penalty shot. Even Team USA thought the infraction resulted in a penalty shot.
Turnover gives Wickenhesier a breakaway, Knight races back and we'll have a penalty shot in OT #DawnsEarlyLight #TeamUSA
— USA Hockey (@USAHockeyScores) February 20, 2014
Time: 7:31, Overtime
20. GOAL! Canada Completes Dramatic Comeback to Win Gold Medal
(Getty)
The Canadians capitalized on the 4-on-3 advantage and Marie-Philip Poulin buried the gold medal-winning goal to lift Canada over the U.S. in an instant classic.
Here’s the golden goal by Poulin.
Canada's women take ice hockey gold with an overtime goal, having come back from 2-0 down v USA in the final #Sochi2014
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) February 20, 2014
Time: 8:10, Overtime