USA women surge past Italy with second-period outburst in Olympic quarterfinal
Team USA broke open a tight game with an avalanche of second-period goals on Friday, Feb. 13 (ET), racing to a 6-0 lead over Italy in the women’s ice hockey quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics. The Americans, undefeated in group play and dominant at both ends of the ice, rode speed, depth and special-teams execution to take full control before the second intermission.
Second-period blitz changes the game
After a measured first period that produced just one U. S. goal, the floodgates opened. Kendall Coyne Schofield struck twice in quick succession early in the second to make it 3-0, flipping the momentum decisively. Laila Edwards added another to push the margin to 4-0 as the U. S. forecheck and transition game overwhelmed Italy’s defensive structure.
The onslaught continued when a relentless penalty kill turned into offense. Joy Dunne’s coast-to-coast burst created a wraparound chance that clanged off the pipe, and Britta Curl pounced on the loose puck to finish a short-handed tally for 5-0.
Tempers flare after sixth U. S. goal
Emotions boiled over moments later. Hannah Bilka scored in front to make it 6-0, then tumbled onto the Italian goaltender, sparking a scrum in the crease. Players had to be separated as both benches traded heated words across the ice. After order was restored, the Americans resumed their businesslike push toward the semifinals.
Leaders deliver, depth overwhelms
The U. S. captain’s two-goal burst set the tone, with Coyne Schofield leveraging her trademark acceleration to exploit gaps and finish in tight. Edwards’ touch around the net and Curl’s opportunism on the penalty kill underscored the breadth of scoring threats up and down the lineup. Dunne’s hustle play that led to the short-handed marker captured the night’s defining edge: speed through the neutral zone and quick-strike instincts off turnovers.
Beyond the score sheet, the U. S. controlled puck possession, won board battles and layered pressure that forced rushed Italian exits. That territorial edge fed a cycle of sustained zone time, drawing penalties and tiring defenders as the period wore on.
Defensive grip tightens behind special teams
While the offense grabbed headlines, the Americans’ defensive details were equally sharp. Sticks in lanes, disciplined gaps and clean breakouts limited Italy’s rush looks, and the penalty kill not only neutralized threats but turned defense into instant offense. The short-handed goal epitomized the night: quick reads, quicker legs and five skaters thinking attack even while down a player.
Big-picture stakes: semifinal runway widens
The United States entered the knockout round with imposing form, having gone unbeaten and outscoring group opponents 20-1. That early standard carried over to their first elimination test, where composure and pace translated into a multi-goal cushion by the game’s midpoint. Italy arrived at 2-2 and competed through a disciplined first period, but the second-period surge left little room for a comeback against a team rolling four lines with purpose.
With the lead firmly in hand late in the second, the Americans positioned themselves to manage minutes, keep structure tidy and skate into the weekend with momentum for the semifinals. The opponent and puck drop details will crystallize once the bracket completes, but the checklist remains the same: maintain tempo, keep special teams sharp and lean on a deep forward group that can strike in waves.
Elsewhere at Milan Cortina
In a busy Friday slate (ET), the figure skating spotlight featured a high-wire men’s free skate as Ilia Malinin eyed gold in his Olympic debut, with the quad axel looming as a potential showstopper. On the hockey side, the men’s tournament showcased young stars making their mark as medal races tightened across the program.
For the U. S. women, the mission stays straightforward: stack periods that look like this second frame, where speed meets structure and the chances arrive in bunches. If that template holds, the path to the podium remains clear.
