1998 – Women’s ice hockey makes its Olympic debut in Nagano, and the United States captures its first gold medal, establishing the foundation of the U.S.–Canada rivalry that will dominate future Games [4].

2018 – The United States wins its second Olympic women’s‑hockey title in Pyeongchang, ending a 20‑year gold‑medal drought and reinforcing its status as a top contender [4].

2022 – Canada defeats the United States 3‑2 in the gold‑medal game, giving the Canadians their fifth Olympic title and tightening the historic back‑and‑forth between the two powers [4].

Early tournament, Feb 2026 – Team USA opens the Milan‑Cortina Games with a 5‑1 victory over Czechia, Barbora Jurickova scoring the opening breakaway goal and launching a shutout streak that will exceed 330 minutes [6].

Group stage, Feb 2026 – The United States posts five consecutive shutouts, beating Sweden 5‑0, Italy 6‑0, Canada 5‑0 (the first Olympic shutout in Canadian women’s‑hockey history), Switzerland 5‑0 and Finland 5‑0, outscoring all opponents 31‑1 and cementing its dominance [4][11].

Mid‑Feb 2026 – Canada rebounds from the 5‑0 loss, defeating Switzerland 2‑1 in the semifinal with captain Marie‑Philip Poulin scoring both goals after returning from a right‑knee injury, keeping her Olympic career‑goal record alive [13].

Mid‑Feb 2026 – The United States crushes Sweden 5‑0 in its semifinal, with goaltender Aerin Frankel recording a third shutout and the squad advancing unbeaten to the gold‑medal match [3].

Feb 16, 2026 – Preview articles note that the gold‑medal showdown will be the seventh USA‑Canada final in eight Olympics; both captains Hilary Knight and Marie‑Philip Poulin may be playing their final Games, adding personal stakes to the historic rivalry [13].

Feb 18, 2026 – Captain Hilary Knight says she hopes to cap her career with a gold‑medal win over Canada, calling the rivalry “one of the most beautiful rivalries in sport,” and later adds, “There’s really nothing like it when you throw on the USA jersey…representing your country on the world stage…is just so special, so magical” [6][12].

Feb 19, 2026 – The gold‑medal game is set for 10 a.m. PDT (1:10 PM ET) at Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, broadcast on USA Network, Peacock and NBC platforms, with Seattle watch‑parties announced for fans [3][11][12].

Feb 19, 2026 – Early in the second period, Canada’s Kristin O’Neill scores a short‑handed breakaway goal, giving Canada a 1‑0 lead and delivering the first goal the United States concedes after more than 350 minutes of shutout hockey [1].

Feb 19, 2026 – With 2:04 left in regulation, U.S. captain Hilary Knight tips in a point‑blank shot to tie the game, earning her 15th Olympic goal and setting U.S. records for most career Olympic goals and points (33) in women’s hockey [4][8].

Feb 19, 2026 – Four minutes into the 3‑on‑3 overtime, defenseman Megan Keller backhands the winning goal, delivering the United States its third Olympic women’s‑hockey gold and ending a 352‑minute shutout streak [1][2].

Feb 19, 2026 – Goalies dominate the final: Aerin Frankel makes 30 saves for the United States, while Canada’s Ann‑Renee Desbiens records 31 saves; Canada’s O’Neill also nets a short‑handed goal earlier in the match [4].

Feb 19, 2026 – After the buzzer, U.S. players celebrate exuberantly, waving flags and snapping a team selfie, while Canadian forward Laura Stacey describes the loss as “heartbreaking,” underscoring the emotional weight of the rivalry [2].

Feb 19‑20, 2026 – Keller later calls her overtime goal “a deliberate attempt to win rather than avoid loss,” and Knight’s tying goal cements her as the all‑time U.S. women’s Olympic goal leader [2][8].

Feb 20, 2026 – The Olympic schedule moves to Friday’s men’s semifinals (Canada vs Finland and United States vs Slovakia) and the women’s bronze‑medal match between Switzerland and Sweden, concluding the hockey program at Milan‑Cortina [1].