U.S. Women Dominate Sweden in Olympic Hockey Semifinal, Set Up Gold-Medal Rematch with Canada
Team USA steamrolled Sweden 5-0 in Monday's Olympic semifinal in Milan, extending an overpowering run that has seen the Americans outscore opponents 31-1 and register consecutive shutouts. The victory advances the U. S. to the gold-medal game Thursday at 1: 10 p. m. ET, where they will face Canada.
Dominant performance in Milan semifinal
From the opening minutes, the United States made clear this would not be a close contest. Sweden did not record its first shot on goal until 11 minutes into the game, and while they increased offensive activity as the contest went on, they never troubled U. S. goaltender Aerin Frankel in earnest. Five different American players found the back of the net, highlighting both depth and balance across the roster.
A Cayla Barnes wrist shot from above the right faceoff circle opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period, setting a tone of relentless pressure and clinical finishing. Frankel posted a shutout, the fifth straight blanking for the U. S., and the defensive unit smothered Sweden’s best attempts to build momentum.
Forward Taylor Heise summed up the team's mindset, noting that the Americans ‘‘put on a show every time we’re out there because we love to play hockey, ’’ and praised the work ethic and buy-in from every player. Fellow forward Kendall Coyne Schofield credited the group chemistry and willingness to embrace any role for the team’s success.
Stingy defense, historic run heading into final
The U. S. defense has been the story of the tournament; they have not allowed a goal in 16 straight periods of play and have outscored opponents by an almost unfathomable margin. The only blemish on their ledger was an early, unusual goal conceded in the opening game after a turnover and an opponent exiting the penalty box at an inopportune moment. Since then, the Americans have been unbreachable.
Caroline Harvey has been a standout from the blue line, compiling nine points (two goals, seven assists), the most ever by an American defender in a single Olympic tournament. Her playmaking and transitional speed have helped fuel the U. S. attack while the defensive corps and special teams have suffocated chances against them.
Sweden’s run to the semifinals was impressive in its own right. Placed in Group B during preliminary play, the Swedes saw that grouping as a slight but responded by cruising through their schedule, winning multiple games by comfortable margins and advancing by shutting out a higher-ranked opponent in the quarterfinals. Still, the leap from Group B competition to facing the dominant U. S. proved too steep on this night.
Gold on the horizon — a familiar North American rivalry
Thursday’s gold-medal game will be a storied rematch: the U. S. meets Canada, the reigning Olympic champion. The two North American powerhouses have contested the Olympic gold all but once since women's hockey became part of the Winter Games in 1998, and the matchup brings a familiar intensity and high stakes.
For the Swedes, the semifinal loss is a bitter end to a tournament that exceeded expectations. Swedish coach Ulf Lundberg quipped that his team ‘‘maybe needed a plexiglass in front of our net to stay in the game, ’’ a wry acknowledgement of the gulf in finishing and fortune on the night.
For the Americans, the path to a potential third straight Olympic gold runs through one of their fiercest rivals. With a locked-in defense, balanced scoring and goaltending that has been near flawless, the U. S. will enter Thursday’s 1: 10 p. m. ET final as the heavy favorite — and as a team that has given itself every reason to believe it can finish the job.
