U.S. dominates Swiss
Now women’s hockey team’s focus turns to matchup with rival Canada
BEIJING — Having avoided questions about their heated cross-border rivalry all week because the focus has been on the next opponent, United States women’s hockey coach Joel Johnson and his players could finally address what’s been on everyone’s minds since the Beijing Winter Games opened. Bring on Canada.
The defending Olympic champions worked out their remaining kinks with a dominating 8-0 win Sunday over Switzerland to prepare for their Group A finale against Canada late Monday night.
“I think both teams think there’s no doubt that we can win, and both teams respect their opponent, but they have all the confidence in the world,” Johnson said. “I know that’s how we’re approaching it. I know that’s how Canada is approaching it. And that’s why it’s going to be fun to watch.”
Hilary Knight scored two first-period goals, Alex Cavallini stopped 12 shots, and the Americans (3-0) produced their most complete performance so far.
Kelly Pannek and Jesse
Compher also scored twice on a night 13 of 19 U.S. skaters earned at least a point.
“I was really happy with how we played. Just felt like we finally put together a full three periods,” defender Lee Stecklein said. “Looking forward to hopefully a practice day tomorrow and then excited for Canada as always.”
The goal eruption came against a Swiss team which had been outscored by a combined 17-3 in losing its first two games, including a 12-1 loss to Canada on Thursday. It also
provided the Americans some momentum a day after they had 62 shots but struggled finishing in a 5-0 win over the Russian team.
Cavallini, who won an NCAA championship with Wisconsin in 2011, won in her Olympic debut. She had considered retiring following the 2018 Winter Games.
“It was a long road to get here,” Cavallini said. “To be here again is really special and I seriously can’t thank my teammates enough for making it that much more special tonight.”
The road became even longer when Johnson revealed the goalie had been dealing with “some injury stuff” in recent months, without being specific.
“For her to play as well as she has and to recover and to be in my mind at 100%, it’s just fun to see,” Johnson said. “She played great and all the credit goes to her.”
Cavallini’s best save came 8½ minutes into the second period, in getting across to her left to stop the Swiss on a 2-on1 break.
Johnson has now rotated in all three of his goalies, with Nicole Hensley getting the shutout against ROC.
Knight opened the scoring by driving to the net and converting her own rebound for a power-play goal 5:40 in. The game was essentially over when Compher, Knight and Pannek scored in a span of 2:11 to put the U.S. up 4-0 by the 16:15 mark of the first period.
Knight has nine career Olympic goals to tie Monique Lamoureux-Morando for fifth on the U.S. list. And she increased her Olympic point total to 22, one behind Katie King, who ranks third.
Amanda Kessel and Dani Cameranesi also scored.