Canada takes silver in shootout loss against United States in women’s Olympic hockey

The crown has finally been passed.

After four consecutive gold medals, Canada will have to settle for silver after falling 3-2 to the United States in a shootout.

The gals in red and white had previously won four straight gold medals, most recently a dramatic 3rd-period comeback against the States in 2014, but were unable to find that magical moment this time around.

The United States will call it due justice, as they’d won 7 of the last 8 World Championships, but couldn’t crack the Canadian code in the Olympics.

This time, however, the code was cracked. Hilary Knight opened the scoring with a deflection in the first period, but Canada found an answer with their own tip-in, as Haley Irwin guided a seemingly impossible pass to tie the game at one apiece.

Canadian legend Marie-Philip Poulin would give Canada a 2-1 lead after a perfectly placed one-timer short side in the second period.

USA would finally even the game after a great save by goaltender Maddie Rooney, which prompted a 2-on-1 the other way. The Canadians were in the middle of a sloppy change, giving Monique Lamoureux a breakaway which she buried to tie the game.

After an overtime that garnered no fruit, the oft-debated shootout was beckoned to decide a winner. Five shooters for each team resulted in a 2 goals apiece, meaning cut throat shootout hockey.

Unfortunately, American forward Jocelyn Lamoureux made a great move and buried it to put the pressure on the Canadians, and it would prove to be the tournament winner after Rooney stopped Meghan Augosta’s attempt.

It’s USA’s second gold medal in women’s ice hockey, after winning the inaugural tournament in 1998.

For Canada, it’s their second silver at the event, and they now hold four golds and two silvers in six Olympics tournaments.

Shannon Szabados named Best Goaltender of the tournament and Mélodie Daoust was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

On a side note: most relatable celebrity during the nail-biter game goes to gold medal figure skater, Scott Moir.