Olympic hockey: U.S. women rout Sweden 5-0, advance to gold-medal game vs. Canada
Team USA overwhelmed Sweden 5-0 in the Olympic hockey semifinals in Milan, earning a spot in the gold-medal game against Canada on Feb. 19 at 1: 10 p. m. ET. Five different American players found the net and goaltender Aerin Frankel recorded another shutout as the United States continued its near-perfect run through the tournament.
Second-period onslaught seals the victory
The Americans struck early and then broke the game open in the second period. Cayla Barnes opened the scoring just over five minutes into the contest with a wrist shot from above the right faceoff circle. That lone first-period goal proved a harbinger of what was to come as the U. S. flipped the switch after intermission.
Taylor Heise added a second-period marker off a crafty setup, and the offense snowballed from there. Abbey Murphy converted a high shot to extend the lead, and Laila Edwards and her linemates combined for another quick goal in the same span, turning the contest into a rout in a matter of minutes. Hayley Scamurra capped the scoring later in the period to make it 5-0 heading into the final frame.
The barrage left Swedish goaltender Ebba Svensson Traff replaced midway through the second, but even the change failed to stem the tide. Sweden, which had earned an unlikely berth in the medal rounds with dominant wins earlier in the week, struggled to generate meaningful scoring opportunities against a relentless U. S. attack.
Defense and goaltending: a fortress in front of Frankel
Aerin Frankel continued an outstanding tournament and recorded another shutout, adding to a streak that stretches across multiple games. The American defense limited Sweden to few high-danger chances and made play in front of the goaltender largely predictable, allowing Frankel to focus on routine saves and maintain composure throughout the game.
Team USA’s defensive discipline has been a hallmark of their run: opponents have found the net only once in Olympic play while the Americans have outscored rivals by a wide margin. That stingy play has left the roster confident and connected, with veterans and young contributors embracing defined roles in a cohesive system.
What’s next: a rematch with Canada for the gold
With the semifinal closed out, the U. S. will face Canada for the Olympic gold on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 1: 10 p. m. ET. The rivals met earlier in the tournament, where the Americans posted a decisive win, and the upcoming matchup offers a chance for the U. S. to complete a dominant run and claim the top podium spot.
Canada, the reigning Olympic champion, has also navigated a challenging bracket and will arrive aiming to defend its title. For the U. S., the path here has been built on depth scoring, stifling defense and goaltending that has elevated the entire team. Players emphasized the collective commitment in the locker room and the simple goal: keep working shift by shift and take one game at a time.
Sweden, though overwhelmed in the semifinal, will regroup for the bronze-medal game later in the tournament. The Swedish roster exceeded preseason expectations by reaching the medal round and will aim to turn that momentum into the program’s first women’s ice hockey Olympic medal since 2006.
Thursday’s gold-medal game promises to be the climax of an Olympic hockey tournament defined so far by the United States’ balance of offense and defense, and by a goaltender who has been near-impenetrable between the pipes.
