Clash of the titans
Canada disposes of Russians to set up gold showdown with U.S.
GANGNEUNG — Call it the surest thing at the modern Olympics — a Canada-U.S. showdown for the gold medal in women’s hockey.
But also remember that given the nature, history and intensity of the rivalry, it is one of the most anticipated finals of any team sport in the Games, summer or winter.
With a 5-0 win over Russia at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Monday’s semifinal, Team Canada advanced to the Thursday’s final and a chance to win its fifth Olympic gold in a row.
And sticking to the script, the Americans moved on in similarly dominant fashion with a 5-0 shutout of Finland in the earlier semifinal.
That it was expected for four years — let alone the four games each have played here — will only enhance the feeling when these two hockey superpowers collide yet again.
“We’re just excited to be able to play them because it is best-on-best competition and it’s nice to see that the final game is going to be that way,” Canadian coach Laura Schuler said. “Plans are falling into place and you have two great opponents at the end. I think it’s awesome at the world’s biggest stage to be able to watch two powerhouses go at it.”
Such a predictable conclusion to the tournament has plenty of critics, a voice that found even more ammunition Monday when it was announced that the women’s tournament will be expanded by two to 10 teams for the 2022 Games in China.
The rest of the world clearly has a long way to go to catch Canada and the U.S. as both advanced with such ease that the semifinals were glorified warmups. Each team plays with speed and skill and with an intensity that will be through the roof for Thursday’s final.
“We certainly feel after the round-robin we had and that semifinal we feel confident,” Canadian forward Brianne Jenner said. “We’re excited about the kind of game we’re playing.
“It will be a battle of the ages as usual. It’s one of the best rivalries in hockey. There’s not much more you can say.”
For a while there on Monday the Canadians were struggling to put the Russians away. Though a young team, they played physical and that feistiness forced the Canadian team to battle. But a threegoal third period provided a generous dose of momentum to take to the final.
“Being able to finish the way we did is really old momentum leading into the next game,” Canada’s Melodie Daoust said.
Canada got a pair of goals from Jennifer Wakefield and singles from captain MariePhilip Poulin, Rebecca Johnston and first-time Olympian, Emily Clark.
Canada outshot the Russians 47-16 with starter Shannon Szabados steady in earning the shutout.
With the win, the Canadians earned a sixth consecutive trip to the final, meeting the U.S. for a fifth consecutive time.
The latest clash is layered with meaning, as it always seems to be with these two, guaranteeing the intensity will be off the charts.
“This is the game that you want,” said U.S. forward, Hilary Knight. “This is the game we’ve been dreaming of and to have another opportunity to get back here, it’s huge.”
The Americans have waiting for this game for what must seem like forever. Start with the four-year time frame dating back to the Sochi Olympics when they held a 2-0 lead with roughly four minutes remaining in the gold-medal contest. In one of the greatest games in international hockey history, Canada stormed back to win 3-2 in overtime.
But really, the U.S. has been waiting 20 years since women’s hockey made its Olympic debut and they won their only gold medal. Canada has captured every one since and compiled a 24-game winning streak along the way.
The Americans generally hold the upper hand in non-Olympic years winning a pile of world championship titles, including the past three. But helped along by its sixmonth “centralization,” Canada gets it done in Olympic years.
The Canadians came here feeling confident, however and only built on that. After winning five of six games in a pre-tournament exhibition series against the U.S., they swept through their roundrobin play, including a 2-1 win over those same Americans plus Monday’s semi triumph.
But as these countries have shown repeatedly, however, in a one-game showdown past performances — recent and dated — can be tossed.
“It doesn’t matter what happens in the past, it’s a new game here,” Poulin said. “I think we matured over the year. We know what happens, we know the pressure and the distractions and we know that we’ve been a good team.”