U.S Women Headed Back to Gold Medal Game

For the fourth time in five Olympics since women’s ice hockey became a medal sport, the United States is headed to the gold medal game. The Americans routed Sweden, 6-1, in a semifinal match on Monday at Shayba Arena in Sochi, Russia to advance to the final.

It wasn’t even that close.

The Americans took a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes, while outshooting the Swedes, 28-1, in that span. The shots-on-goal margin climbed to 70-9 before it was all over, with U.S. goaltender Jessie Vetter (Wisconsin) coming less than seven minutes of her first shutout in Sochi while seeing limited action.

Megan Bozek had a goal and two assists for the American blueliners, who also provided the game-winning goal by Kacey Bellamy (New Hampshire). Forwards Alex Carpenter (Boston College), Amanda Kessel (Minnesota), Monique Lamoureux (North Dakota) and Brianna Decker (Wisconsin) also lit the lamp for the U.S.

Sweden’s 3-2 shootout victory over the U.S. at the 2006 winter Olympics in Torino, Italy seems more and more like an anomaly, in light of today’s contest. The Americans will now face the winner of today's other semifinal between arch-rival Canada and Switzerland on Thursday (12 a.m. ET) for the gold, which Canada has won in the last three Olympics. The U.S beat Switzerland, 9-0, last week but fell to Canada, 3-2, in preliminary-round play.

U.S Men End Preliminary Round with Victory over Slovenia

 

The U.S. Men’s Olympic Team completed Group ‘A’ play today at the XXII Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, with a 5-1 win at Shayba Arena over Olympic newcomer Slovenia.

Phil Kessel (Minnesota) notched a hat trick and Joe Pavelski (Wisconsin) tallied three assists, each coming on Kessel’s three goals. Ryan McDonagh (Wisconsin) and David Backes (Minnesota State) also scored for the U.S., while Ryan Miller (Michigan State) recorded 17 saves in net.

The Americans, who finished first in their group with a 2-1-0-0 record that also included victories over Slovakia and Russia (shootout), finished preliminary-round play as the third overall seed, and will now await their next opponent after receiving a bye into the quarterfinals.

The U.S. Women's Olympic Team plays Sweden in a semifinal contest on Monday morning (7:30 a.m. ET, NBC Sports Network). The Swedes defeated the Americans, 3-2, in a semifinal-round shootout at the 2006 Olympic Games in Torino, Italy. The winner of tomorrow’s game will face the winner of Canada-Switzerland on Thursday for the 2014 gold medal.