Team USA Advances to Women’s Hockey Gold Medal Game

The U.S. women’s hockey team has secured a spot in the gold medal game after a commanding 5-0 victory over Sweden.

Team USA took an early lead with a strong performance in the second period, and now they’re gearing up to chase gold later this week.

Kayla Burns opened the scoring for Team USA just over five minutes into the game, firing a shot past the Swedish goalie to make it 1-0.

This goal came after the U.S. applied significant pressure, expertly maneuvering the puck in the offensive zone before Burns found the net.

As the teams headed into the first intermission, the U.S. was up 1-0, but there was more to the story than just the score. Sweden had a scoreless first period, extending Team USA’s remarkable defensive record, which dates back to their first match against the Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In fact, the U.S. outscored Sweden 13-2 in that first period, creating an atmosphere that suggested more goals were to come.

In the second period, Sweden started strong and doubled their shot count in the first two minutes. They managed to outscore Team USA 5-1 early in the second period, putting pressure on goalie Erin Frankel.

A turning point came when Haley Skamura received a penalty, giving Sweden a power-play chance for the first time. Yet, Team USA held steady; Frankel made two crucial saves to keep the game at 1-0.

Hilary Knight nearly doubled the lead in a flurry of activity right after the penalty, but Sweden managed to maintain their defense.

The game shifted when Team USA broke free on a 2-on-1 with Hannah Birka and Taylor Heise, leading to Birka’s second goal after a well-timed pass from Heise.

Late in the second period, USA extended their lead. Abby Murphy broke through the Swedish defense to score Team USA’s third goal with a powerful shot.

Kendall Coyne-Schofield even deflected a shot that narrowly missed its target.

Then, in a remarkable minute, Team USA netted two more goals, coinciding with Sweden’s switch to a backup goalie.

Despite the goalie change, Team USA continued their scoring run with Szumara hitting the fifth goal from a sharp assist by Britta Karl.

After a solid start from Sweden in the second period, Team USA’s robust response was clear. When the buzzer sounded at the second intermission, the scoreboard reflected their dominance.

During the third period, Team USA maintained control, leading to a final score of 5-0. Remarkably, they haven’t allowed a single goal since their initial game against the Czech Republic, achieving five consecutive shutouts and not conceding for more than 16 periods.

Next, Team USA will face the winner of the other semifinal between Switzerland and Canada, both of whom they have previously defeated 5-0 at these Olympics. That match kicks off later at 3:10 p.m. ET.

The gold medal game is set for Thursday at 1:10 p.m. ET.