usa hockey olympics: U.S. Dominates Sweden, Advances to Gold-Medal Game vs. Canada
MILAN — The United States women's hockey team steamrolled Sweden 5-0 in the Olympic semifinal, extending a remarkable run of defensive dominance and earning a spot in Thursday's gold-medal game at 1: 10 p. m. ET against Canada.
Dominant defense and balanced scoring fuel rout
The U. S. performance was comprehensive. Five different players found the net while goaltender Aerin Frankel recorded her fifth consecutive shutout of the tournament. The Americans have outscored opponents 31-1 and have not allowed a goal in 16 straight periods of play, a streak that has suffocated every opponent they’ve faced in Milan.
Just over five minutes into the game, Cayla Barnes opened the scoring with a wrist shot from above the right faceoff circle that beat Sweden’s goaltender glove-side, setting the tone for a one-sided contest. The rest of the scoring came from a roster that has showcased depth across every line: timely finishes, consistent forechecking, and a systematic defensive structure that has erased high-danger chances for opponents.
Forward Taylor Heise summed up the chemistry succinctly: "We put on a show every time we’re out there because we love to play hockey. From the outside, you can’t even understand how thoroughly people do their jobs in that locker room. And that’s the reason why we’re coming out and winning on a daily basis. " Kendall Coyne Schofield highlighted the team’s buy-in, noting that teammates embrace whatever role is required to win.
Sweden’s inspiring run meets a superior opponent
Sweden arrived in the medal rounds as an underdog that had already defied expectations. Placed in the lower-seeded group during preliminary play, the Swedes used that slight as motivation, winning all four group games by three-goal margins and then producing a defensive shutout of a higher-ranked opponent in the quarterfinals.
Yet the semifinal posed a different challenge. The Swedes finished with more shots than in the game’s opening minutes, but they rarely threatened the American net in any meaningful way. Swedish coach Ulf Lundberg captured the mismatch with a pointed quip about the pace and pressure from the U. S.: "Today, maybe we needed a plexiglass in front of our net to stay in the game. " While Sweden’s journey to the last four was a headline story of the tournament, the semifinal exposed the gap between their hot streak and the championship-level depth and structure of the American squad.
Prior to this matchup, the only blemish on the U. S. sheet had been a fluky goal in their tournament opener — a breakaway that arose from an unlucky turnover and timing with a penalty — and that remains the lone goal allowed through this dominant run.
Gold looming: a familiar North American rivalry
Thursday’s final will pit the U. S. against Canada at 1: 10 p. m. ET, renewing one of the sport’s most storied Olympic rivalries. These teams have most often met on the sport’s biggest stage, and this year is no different: both squads enter with pedigree, but the U. S. carries momentum and a defensive record that will be difficult to counter.
Canada, the defending Olympic champion, fell to the United States 5-0 earlier in group play while missing its captain to injury. That earlier result underscored how thoroughly the Americans have executed their game plan. Still, a gold-medal match is a different animal — immediate adjustments, special teams, and individual moments of brilliance can swing the outcome. For now, though, the U. S. enters the final with confidence and a roster depth that has repeatedly overwhelmed opponents in Milan.
The U. S. women have played with a blend of precision and purpose throughout the tournament. If they carry the same discipline to Thursday’s final at 1: 10 p. m. ET, they will be well-positioned to capture the top prize.
