Summary Canada rallied from 2-0 down to defeat the US 3-2 and win women's ice hockey gold.
SOCHI (AFP) - Marie-Philip Poulin scored an equalizer 54 seconds from time and then potted the game winner in overtime as Canada rallied from 2-0 down to defeat the United States 3-2 and win women's ice hockey gold.
Poulin's golden goal came on the power play as she took a pass from Laura Fortino and snapped the puck past a sliding Jesse Vetter in goal for the Americans in the gold medal contest of the 2014 Sochi Games.
Canada had trailed 2-0 late in the third and appeared to be heading to defeat before coming to life to score two goals just 2:32 apart to send the game into extra time at the Bolshoy Ice Dome. Brianne Jenner and Poulin both scored late to tie the game 2-2.
"Once we got one we knew to put it on the net," said Canadian forward Meghan Agosta, who won her third Olympic gold.
"We ended up pulling the goalie and putting one in to go into overtime. At that point we knew we had the momentum."
Poulin got the equalizing goal with their net empty and just 54 seconds left on the clock by beating Vetter in close.
Canadian defenceman Rebecca Johnston backhanded the puck from the right corner towards the net and Vetter knocked it directly onto the stick of Poulin who made a quick move and fired it home to force overtime.
"I heard her call," said Johnston of Poulin. "I knew she was somewhere in front of the net. I just tried to pass it as quickly as I could.
"I put it a little closer to the goalie than I hoped, but it ended up working out well."
Poulin's overtime winner touched off wild celebrations on the ice as she was mobbed by her teammates while the crowd sang the national anthem 'O Canada'.
It was Canada's fourth straight Olympic women's title and 20th straight victory in the Winter Games dating back to 2002.
