By Amy Tennery
MILAN, Feb 16 (Reuters) – The United States beat Sweden 5-0 in the women’s ice hockey semi-finals on Monday to reach the Winter Olympics gold medal game for a fifth time in a row, keeping on a collision course with arch rivals Canada.
The two-times champions were the favourites heading into Milan and they put on another convincing performance at Santagiulia arena, where Cayla Barnes scored in the first period, while Taylor Heise, Abbey Murphy, veteran Kendall Coyne Schofield and Hayley Scamurra notched second-period goals.
They will play the winner of the semi-final between defending Olympic champions Canada and Switzerland for the gold on Thursday.
Sweden, who won their last medal with the silver in 2006, beat the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals but ran out of firepower against the world champions United States. They will play in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
The United States have only conceded one goal in a confident march through the women’s tournament in Milan and they were dominant from the start as defender Barnes ripped a wrist shot past three Swedish defenders to open the scoring.
They kept their foot on the gas after the intermission, as Hannah Bilka streaked down the right side and fed the puck to forward Heise, who sent it off the glove of the Swedish goalie and into the net midway through the second period.
Forward Murphy flung herself into the boards in celebration after she whacked one over the goalie’s head and off the crossbar to make it 3-0 and her teammates added two more scores in rapid succession, even as Sweden outshot them 13-11 during the second period.
“When we look back at this tournament, what we have done so far is amazing,” said goalie Aerin Frankel, who turned away 23 shots. “But obviously the job’s not done yet.”
US DOMINANT SO FAR IN MILAN
With a mix of young talent and veteran poise, the United States have been hungry for revenge since the Canadians denied them a place on the top of the podium four years ago.
They have been in great form in Milan, scoring 31 goals across six games and beating Canada 5-0 in the group stage.
There will be no love lost between the two sides if they meet in the dream showdown that North American fans will be hoping for, after Canada brought home five Olympic golds since the event’s debut in 1998.
“Just so many good players and we’re playing as a team which is the most important part,” said Bilka. “You want to have your best game your last game. This is when it all comes together.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Milan, additional reporting by Giulio PiovaccariEditing by Christian Radnedge)
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