VANCOUVER: Canada captured a third consecutive Olympic women's ice hockey title on Thursday, defeating arch-rivals the United States 2-0 in an emotional championship match on home ice.

"It was special to do it at home," Olympic all-time scoring leader Hayley Wickenheiser said after her third gold medal. "They have all been sensational. This one wasn't pretty but we gutted it out and we got the job done."

Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice in the first period and goaltender Shannon Szabados made 28 saves to bring Canada the victory and bragging rights in a border war between the sport's only two women's powers.