Team USA Defeats Finland, Advances to Gold-Medal Game

USA gets the chance to defend its gold.
A 4-1 win over Finland on Monday in the semifinal round punched USA's ticket to the championship game of the Beijing Winter Olympics. The 2018 gold medalists in PyeongChang get a rematch with rival Canada.

"I think we're at a great place. Our backs have been up against the wall a couple times, and we've had to really dig deep and find ways to score. I think it's been really great, we've grown a lot and I'm happy with the way we're heading," Cayla Barnes said post-game.
Barnes and Hilary Knight led the way offensively with a goal and an assist each and goalie Alex Cavallini made timely stops in a stellar performance to carry USA past Finland.
Barnes kicked off the scoring in the second period with her first Olympic goal, a power-play marker 3:39 into the frame. Barnes finished off a beautiful passing play by Hannah Brandt and Knight, who played in her 21st Olympic game to tie Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter for most Olympic games played in USA women's hockey history.
"Just happy to get one on the power play today. I think we really needed that," Barnes said.

With 1:07 remaining in the second period, Knight stretched the USA lead to 2-0 with her fifth goal of these Olympics and 11th of her career. A shot from the point was blocked in front, but Knight found it, turned and whipped it home for her 26th career Olympic point, placing her No. 2 on USA's all-time scoring list, only behind Potter. Savannah Harmon and Kendall Coyne Schofield assisted on the play.
"Hannah's assist to Cayla on the power play was an electric play. Kendall's leading the charge all night and then Hilary scores in a big spot when we need it the most. I thought that was good balance and shows you what that line can do," coach Joel Johnson said after the game.

Hayley Scamurra gave USA a cushion with a tip-in goal off a Barnes shot for a 3-0 lead early in the third period.

Cavallini was perfect in her third start in four games until Susanna Tapani put one past her with 26 seconds left in the game. It was just Cavallini's second goal allowed of the tournament. She shut out Switzerland in the preliminary round and beat the Czech Republic in USA's previous game in the quarterfinals.
Cavallini made 25 saves against Finland, none more important than back-to-back, larcenous stops on Michelle Karvinen to keep the game scoreless in the final minute of the first period. Karvinen tried to stash her own rebound after firing a shot on a 2-on-1 rush but Cavallini shut down both attempts.
"I thought our defensive play was outstanding. And that starts in net," Johnson said.
"Alex was fantastic today, so the credit goes to her."

Abby Roque added an empty-net goal to seal the 4-1 final.
Team USA faces an offensive juggernaut in a Canada team that is coming off a 10-3 win over Switzerland in the semifinals. USA's only loss of this Olympic tournament was a 4-2 defeat to Canada in the preliminary round finale. In 2018, USA defeated Canada in a shootout for its first gold medal in women's hockey since winning the Olympics' first women's tournament in 1998. USA and Canada have met in the gold-medal game in six out of seven Olympics.
The gold-medal game in Beijing is set for an 8:10 p.m. PT start time Wednesday on NBC.
"I don't think we've played our best game yet," Johnson said.