One of the best rivalries in all of sports will be on display on Thursday night at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Team USA and Canada will meet in the women’s hockey gold-medal game for the seventh time in Olympic history.
Canada owns a 4-2 advantage over the Americans in gold-medal games.
However, the Americans have been the best team at the Milan Cortina Games through six games.
Women’s Hockey Gold Medal Game Info
Date: Thursday, February 19
Canada owns the historical edge in the rivalry with four of its five gold-medal game victories coming against Team USA.
The Americans should be the favorite in Thursday’s game, though, because of their form in Milan.
Team USA outscored its opponents 31-1 and its only concession came in the first group-stage game against Czechia.
The Americans shut out Canada in the group stage by a 5-0 score, a similar score to most of the other Team USA games at the Milan Cortina Games.
Team USA has received contributions from up and down the lineup, starting with forwards Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter and defenseman Caroline Harvey.
Knight is one goal away from becoming the highest-scoring American in women’s Olympic hockey history.
Knight’s been sitting on 14 Olympic goals for a few games now. It would be quite the spectacle if her record-breaking goal helps the Americans beat Canada for gold.
Marie-Philip Poulin, the highest-scoring woman in Olympic hockey history, will be a factor for Canada.
Poulin missed the group-stage contest with the Americans due to an injury. She’s scored three times in two knockout-round games. She has a knack for scoring in big games, so it would be no surprise to see her and Knight find the back of the net on Thursday.
Canada’s defense hasn’t been as formidable as the American defense, as it allowed six goals in group play and one in each knockout-round contest.
Team USA will be favored, but do not expect a one-sided affair, especially with Poulin back on the ice.
We should expect one of the best gold-medal matchups at the Milan Cortina Games, and potentially of all-time, given Team USA’s form and Canada’s history in gold-medal games.