The United States women's hockey team delivered a masterclass performance at the Milan Cortina Games on Tuesday, overwhelming a short-handed Canadian side with a resounding 5-0 victory. This decisive win not only clinched top spot in Group A for the Americans but also underscored their status as tournament favourites heading into the knockout stages.
Youth and Speed Overwhelm Canadian Defence
Hannah Bilka emerged as the standout performer, scoring twice in a match where the US's youthful roster and blistering speed proved too much for Canada to handle. The absence of Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin, ruled out just hours before puck drop with a lower-body injury, left a significant void in leadership and offensive threat that the Americans exploited ruthlessly.
College Talent Shines on Olympic Stage
The American victory was built on contributions from their collegiate contingent, with seven players still enrolled at university making significant impacts. Caroline Harvey from the University of Wisconsin recorded a goal and two assists, while her Badger teammates Laila Edwards and Kristen Simms also found the net. Edwards' goal marked a historic moment as she became the first Black woman to score for the US in Olympic competition.
University of Minnesota captain Abbey Murphy demonstrated exceptional playmaking ability, setting up three goals with precise passing and intelligent positioning. The American attack flowed through these young stars, who combined speed with clinical finishing to dismantle the Canadian defence.
Goaltending Excellence and Defensive Solidity
Aerin Frankel continued her impressive Olympic debut with a 20-save shutout performance, her second clean sheet of the tournament. The American defensive structure limited Canada to perimeter opportunities, with Frankel handling everything that came her way with confidence and composure.
Even veteran presence Hilary Knight contributed, adding an assist to tie Jenny Potter's record for most Olympic points by a US women's hockey player. This blend of youthful exuberance and experienced leadership created a formidable combination that Canada simply couldn't match.
Canadian Struggles Without Their Leader
Canada opened tentatively and quickly found themselves in penalty trouble, compounding the absence of their inspirational captain. Marie-Philip Poulin, nicknamed "Captain Clutch" for her history of decisive performances, watched from the sidelines as her team struggled to generate sustained offensive pressure.
Goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens faced 27 shots before being pulled after allowing five goals, with Emerance Maschmeyer finishing the game in relief. The Canadian offence managed just four shots in the first period, one of which was a harmless dribbler from the neutral zone, highlighting their inability to penetrate the American defensive structure.
Quarter-Final Matchups Set
With Group A now decided, the United States will face host nation Italy in the quarter-finals on Friday. Italy secured the third and final playoff spot in Group B with a 2-2 record, setting up an intriguing clash against the tournament favourites.
Canada, meanwhile, faces uncertainty regarding Poulin's availability for their final preliminary round game against Finland on Thursday and their quarter-final matchup scheduled for Saturday. The Canadians must regroup quickly after suffering their seventh consecutive defeat to their arch-rivals.
Sweden Completes Perfect Preliminary Round
In other Olympic women's hockey action, Sweden completed a perfect four-game preliminary round sweep with a 4-0 victory over Japan. Ebba Svensson Traff recorded her first Olympic shutout with 20 saves, while Sweden's balanced attack saw goals from Josefin Bouveng, Hanna Thuvik, Mira Hallin and Hanna Olsson.
The Swedish team outscored their opponents 18-2 across the group stage and will face the third seed from Group A in the quarter-finals. Their dominant performance establishes them as serious medal contenders alongside the United States.
Germany secured second place in Group B with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Italy, with Laura Kluge scoring the game-winning breakaway goal with just 1:29 remaining in regulation. Italy nevertheless advanced to the knockout stages for the first time in their Olympic history, a significant achievement for the host nation.
