U.S. routs Sweden, sets up classic gold showdown with Canada in olympic hockey
The U. S. women’s hockey team continued its overwhelming run on Monday in Milan, blanking Sweden 5-0 in the semifinal to book a spot in the gold-medal match against Canada. The victory preserved an Olympic streak of defensive perfection and underscored the depth and balance of a roster that has outscored opponents by a staggering margin in these Games.
U. S. dominance in Milan
The Americans set the tone early and never let up. A first-period goal just over five minutes in — a wrist shot from Cayla Barnes — opened the scoring and signaled the kind of control the U. S. would exert for the full 60 minutes. Five different American skaters found the net, and goaltender Aerin Frankel recorded another shutout, her team’s fifth straight, as the U. S. coasted to a 5-0 win.
The stat line for the tournament reads like a clinic: the U. S. has outscored opponents 31-1 and has not allowed a goal in 16 consecutive periods. The lone blemish came early in group play on a fluky breakaway, but since then the Americans have been practically impenetrable. “We put on a show every time we’re out there because we love to play hockey, ” forward Taylor Heise said after the game, praising the team’s preparation and attention to detail.
Veteran speed and structured, two-way play have combined to make this U. S. squad a near-perfect unit. Players in all roles have contributed, and the bench has provided steady minutes and secondary scoring, a factor that has repeatedly tilted games in America’s favor.
Sweden’s unlikely run ends but not without credit
Sweden entered the semifinal with momentum and a reputation for exceeding expectations. Seeded outside the top tier in the tournament draw, the Swedes used group play and a strong quarterfinal performance to reach the medal round, including convincing wins in the early games and a shutout over a bronze-contending opponent in the quarters.
Still, the semifinal proved a different challenge. Sweden registered its first shot on goal only 11 minutes into the contest, a telling indicator of the pressure applied by the U. S. blueline and forecheck. Coach Ulf Lundberg was blunt in his assessment after the loss: the defensive onslaught and American depth made it difficult for Sweden to mount a sustained challenge.
Even in defeat, Sweden’s tournament should be viewed as a success. The squad answered critics who questioned its placement in the lower group by reaching the semifinals and pushing higher-ranked teams in a spirited display through the earlier stages.
Gold-medal clash: U. S. vs. Canada Thursday 1: 10 p. m. ET
The win sets up a classic North American showdown: the U. S. will face Canada in the gold-medal game on Thursday at 1: 10 p. m. ET. The neighbors have met for Olympic gold in women’s hockey almost every time since the sport’s Olympic debut, and this edition promises another high-stakes chapter between the two powerhouses.
Canada, the reigning Olympic champion, fell to the U. S. in round-robin play as well, and the Americans showed little mercy in that matchup either. Injuries have affected the Canadian lineup, but even a hampered opponent proved unable to slow the U. S. juggernaut in Milan. For the Americans, the focus now shifts to fine-tuning special teams, maintaining the defensive intensity, and managing energy for the short turnaround to the final.
“I’ve been on a lot of teams throughout my career, but there’s something special about this one, ” Kendall Coyne Schofield said, reflecting on the collective buy-in and adaptability that have defined the U. S. campaign. With momentum, depth, and goaltending firing on all cylinders, the U. S. will head into Thursday’s gold-medal game as the clear favorite — but a Canada matchup always levels the field and promises drama on the biggest stage in olympic hockey.
