usa hockey olympics: U.S. women dominate Sweden 5-0, set up gold-medal rematch with Canada
MILAN — The U. S. women’s hockey team crushed Sweden 5-0 in the Olympic semifinal, moving on to the gold-medal game Thursday at 1: 10 p. m. ET. Five different American players found the net while goaltender Aerin Frankel turned in another flawless performance, preserving a defensive streak that has helped the Americans outscore opponents 31-1 through six games.
U. S. offense balanced, Frankel seals another shutout
The victory was built on depth and discipline. Cayla Barnes opened the scoring just over five minutes into the first period with a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle that beat Sweden’s netminder high glove. Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Hayley Scamurra all added goals, underscoring how the scoring burden is shared across lines.
Frankel finished with 23 saves and recorded her third shutout of the tournament, becoming the first goaltender in Olympic women's hockey history to post three shutouts in a single Games. The U. S. has not allowed a goal in 331: 23 minutes of play, a stretch that spans 16 straight periods. That defensive dominance has been as decisive as the offense in carrying this team to the medal round.
Sweden’s surprising run falls short against a juggernaut
Sweden arrived in Milan as an underdog but earned its place in the semifinal after strong group play and a quarterfinal shutout of a higher-ranked opponent. The Swedes opened their semifinal night by earning the arena’s first cheer when they managed their first shot on goal 11 minutes into the game, a sign of how thoroughly the Americans controlled play.
Swedish coach Ulf Lundberg summed up his team’s night bluntly: “Today, maybe we needed a plexiglass in front of our net to stay in the game. ” The Swedes did generate more shots as the game progressed and finished with a respectable total, but they were never able to solve the U. S. pressure or break the American defensive structure.
What’s next: a familiar opponent and a final test
Thursday’s final will pit the U. S. against Canada in a rematch of a group-stage tilt the Americans won 5-0. That earlier result marked the first time Canada had been shut out in Olympic competition, and it underscored how dominant the Americans have been throughout the tournament. Team leadership emphasized both confidence and focus after the semifinal; head coach John Wroblewski praised the team’s tenacity and the variety of contributors, while veteran players highlighted the collective buy-in that has driven consistent performances.
Kendall Coyne Schofield put the team’s chemistry in simple terms: “There’s something special about this one. Everyone is willing to do whatever it takes for this team, no matter what the role is. ” Taylor Heise added that the squad relishes the opportunity to play their style on the biggest stage: “We put on a show every time we’re out there because we love to play hockey. ”
With the Olympic final set for Thursday at 1: 10 p. m. ET, the U. S. will look to cap a dominant run that has seen them outscore opponents by a staggering margin and carry an ironclad defensive record into the championship game. The matchup promises a high-stakes test between the tournament’s most potent squad and a Canadian team desperate to reclaim the throne.
