USA, Canada set for Olympic women's ice hockey final clash at Milan-Cortina

MILAN, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States and Canada will meet in the Olympic women's ice hockey gold-medal game after both teams booked their places with contrasting semifinal wins on Monday in Milan.

The United States delivered a commanding 5-0 shutout of Sweden, extending its tournament dominance with four second-period goals to set up Thursday's final at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The Americans have now outscored opponents 31-1 through five games and remain unbeaten, without trailing or being level beyond the opening minutes.

Sweden, despite the loss, capped a strong tournament that included four regulation wins in group play and a quarterfinal shutout of the Czech Republic. Sweden will play Switzerland for bronze, a rematch of the 2014 Olympic bronze-medal game won by the Swiss.

In the other semifinal, Canada edged Switzerland 2-1 in a tense, defense-heavy contest. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored both Canadian goals in the second period, her 19th and 20th career Olympic tallies, to surpass Hayley Wickenheiser as the all-time leading scorer in women's Olympic ice hockey history. ■