U.s. Women's Hockey Dominates Sweden To Advance To The Gold-medal Game

MILAN — The U.S. precocious to nan last of nan women’s lucky tourney astatine nan Milan-Cortina Olympics pinch a 5-0 rout of Sweden connected Monday and will meet nan victor of nan 2nd semifinal betwixt Canada and Switzerland successful Thursday’s gold-medal game.

The goals came from Cayla Barnes, Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne, Hayley Scamurra and Abbey Murphy. Hannah Bilka had 2 assists while Aerin Frankel turned backmost 23 shots successful pitching nan Americans’ 5th consecutive shutout, moving their scoreless streak to much than 331 minutes. The unbeaten U.S. has scored astatine slightest 5 times successful each of its six games, outscoring opponents 31-1 overall.

Kendall Coyne, apical left, celebrates pinch her teammates aft scoring against Sweden successful nan 2nd play Monday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Barnes sewage things started 5:09 into nan first period, taking a walk from Kelley Pannek down nan extremity line, settling it wrong nan correct faceoff circle, past blasting a changeable complete nan enarthrosis of Swedish goalie Ebba Svensson Traff for her first extremity of nan Games. Barnes is nan 15th American to people successful nan tournament.

But that was each nan U.S. would get successful a first play successful which it built a 13-2 changeable advantage.

Heise doubled nan advantage midway done nan 2nd period, though Bilka did astir of nan work, taking nan puck astatine halfway crystal and driving difficult up nan correct helping earlier slipping a deft walk crossed nan beforehand of nan extremity for Heise, who had an easy tap-in.

Six minutes later Murphy made it 3-0 and nan rout was on, pinch Coyne and Scamurra adding goals 109 seconds isolated to widen nan U.S. lead to 5-0 heading into nan 2nd intermission.

U.S. guardant Abbey Murphy , right, scores past Sweden goalkeeper Ebba Svensson Traff successful nan 2nd play Monday.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)