usa hockey cruises to Olympic gold medal game with 5-0 semifinal shutout
The United States women’s team advanced to the Olympic gold medal game with a methodical 5-0 victory over Sweden on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. A stingy defensive effort and a four-goal second period turned a close first frame into a rout, while goaltender Aerin Frankel posted her third shutout of the tournament.
Defense sets the tone, Frankel makes history
The contest opened as an evenly matched, physical affair before the U. S. began to pull away. Cayla Barnes supplied the lone first-period goal, but it was the American defense that dictated the game’s trajectory. The backline limited high-danger chances and consistently cleared rebounds, allowing the goaltender to read the play and make routine saves look easy.
Frankel’s shutout was historic: she became the first goalie in Olympic women’s hockey history to record three shutouts in a single tournament. After the game she credited the group in front of her, saying the team’s defensive structure made the plays predictable and allowed her to do her job. The brass-tacks defensive performance removed pressure on the offense and kept momentum firmly on the U. S. side.
Second-period eruption seals Sweden’s fate
Once the second period began, the U. S. offense changed gears. Taylor Heise started the scoring burst just over nine minutes into the period on a play set up by Hannah Bilka, giving the Americans a two-goal cushion. What followed was a rapid succession of strikes that effectively decided the game.
Over a span of less than three minutes the U. S. notched three goals, with Abbey Murphy zipping a top-shelf shot to extend the lead, and a quick Laila Edwards connection to Kendall Coyne Schofield adding to the onslaught. Hayley Scamurra finished the second-period salvo with the fifth and final goal, burying a chance that forced Sweden to swap goaltenders for relief. Sweden’s replacement netminder held the fort in the third, but the damage had already been done.
Kendall Coyne Schofield captured the team’s mindset postgame, emphasizing the step-by-step focus that carried them through the tournament: take it game by game, period by period, shift by shift. That approach has been simple but effective as the Americans tightened their grip on the podium hunt.
What’s next: gold or bronze on the line
With the semifinal victory, the U. S. moves on to the gold medal game scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1: 10 p. m. ET. The opponent will be the winner of the Canada-Switzerland semifinal. Sweden, meanwhile, will compete for bronze on Feb. 19 at 8: 40 a. m. ET, a chance to claim the program’s first women’s Olympic hockey medal since 2006.
Through the Olympic campaign the Americans have been overwhelming: the roster has outscored tournament opponents 31-1. That balance of relentless offense and disciplined defense has the team squarely focused on the ultimate prize. As one forward put it after the win, the squad has been dreaming of gold, and now that they’re one game away, the target is clear.
USA hockey’s blend of veteran leadership and youthful energy has yielded a near-flawless run so far. If the team carries the same intensity into the final, it will enter the gold medal matchup as a heavy favorite and a confident unit eager to translate dominant performances into Olympic gold.
