U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Blanks Sweden 5-0, Advances to Gold Medal Game
The United States continued its ironclad run at the 2026 Winter Olympics with a 5-0 semifinal victory over Sweden on Monday, Feb. 16. Puck drop for the matchup was 10: 40 a. m. ET, and the result sends the Americans into the gold-medal game where they will face their long-time rival from North America.
Defensive domination: an Olympic shutout streak for the ages
Defence has been the defining story for this U. S. squad. The Americans have not conceded a goal in an Olympic-record span of 331 minutes, a streak that has seen them blank three top rivals in succession. Across the tournament they have outscored opponents 31-1, a margin that underscores both the depth of the roster and the systematic control they impose at both ends of the ice.
In Monday’s semifinal, five different players found the back of the net, illustrating the balance and scoring depth that have carried the team through group play and knockout rounds. That collective threat has allowed the top lines to remain dangerous while giving secondary units license to attack and create turnovers that often turn into scoring chances.
On the blue line, one defender has stood out offensively. Caroline Harvey enters the medal rounds with nine points (2 goals, 7 assists), the most ever by an American defenseman in a single Olympic tournament. Her two-way presence has been pivotal: pinching effectively in the offensive zone, managing key transitions, and adding an extra edge to the power play.
Gold setup: familiar foes and high stakes in Milan–Cortina
The 5-0 victory sets up a gold-medal meeting with Canada, a matchup that has become the marquee rivalry of women's Olympic hockey. Since the sport’s Olympic debut in 1998, the two North American powerhouses have clashed for gold in nearly every tournament, and Thursday’s final promises another high-intensity chapter in that rivalry.
The U. S. team arrives at the final buoyed by momentum and consistent performances. They entered the semifinals at 5-0 after a 6-0 win over Italy, and the coaching staff’s rotation strategy has kept legs fresh for the stretch run. Special teams units have been efficient, and goaltending has delivered every night—crucial in tight, high-pressure games where a single mistake can change the complexion of a medal match.
Beyond the ice, this iteration of the U. S. squad carries the weight of expectation but has responded with disciplined, team-first play. The coaching staff has emphasized structure and puck possession; players have executed with clarity and urgency, eliminating the defensive lapses that have dogged past favorites at these Games.
What to watch in the gold-medal game
Key storylines for the upcoming final include whether the U. S. can maintain its unprecedented shutout streak against a Canadian side that typically tightens defensively and elevates its scoring in medal games. Matchups along the boards and special teams — power play and penalty kill — will likely decide the contest. Watch for which team wins the battle for neutral-zone control and which defense pair steps up to limit the opposing top line.
For now, the U. S. women can take a clear message into the final: they are playing the stingiest, most balanced hockey of the tournament. If they carry that into Thursday’s gold-medal game, the odds are in favor of another historic performance in Olympic hockey.
