Team USA women are off to a hot start at the 2026 Winter Olympics, now 2-0 in group play after a dominant 5-0 win over Finland on Saturday.
The game was Finland’s first of the tournament, after their scheduled opener against Canada was postponed due to a norovirus outbreak in their camp. The Americans pounced early and often on the acclimating Finns, scoring four goals before half of regulation had elapsed.
After strikes from Alex Carpenter, the daughter of former Capitals star Bobby Carpenter, Taylor Heise, and Megan Keller, the stage was set for captain Hilary Knight to make some US Olympic history. With 10:43 remaining in the second period, Knight converted down low in Finland’s zone with the Americans on a power play.
The marker was Knight’s 14th all-time at the Olympics, tying the US record for goals at the tournament held by Natalie Darwitz and Katie King-Crowley.
Knight, 36, now has two goals in two games after also tallying in Team USA’s 5-1 win over Czechia on Thursday. With the goal on Thursday, she became the only American hockey player and just the third Olympian ever to score in five tournaments.
Knight’s first Olympic tournament came at the 2010 Games in Vancouver, where she won a silver medal. She has since participated in the 2014 Sochi, 2018 PyeongChang, and 2022 Beijing Games, winning two more silver medals and one gold (2018).
The Americans also got a third-period goal from Abbey Murphy to wrap up their win. After two games, they are led in scoring by Keller, who has four points (1g, 3a) from the backend.
Team USA will be back on the ice next against Switzerland on Monday. They then face their bitter rivals, Team Canada, on Tuesday.
