US beat Finns to set up gold-medal game with Canada

Hilary Knight had a goal and assist, Alex Cavallini stopped 25 shots and defending Olympic champions the United States defeated Finland 4-1 in a women’s hockey semi-final at the Beijing Games on Monday to set up the sixth gold-medal showdown between the Americans and Canada.

The cross-border rivals will play on Thursday after Canada erupted for five first-period goals over an Olympic record span of 3:24 in a 10-3 win over Switzerland earlier in the day.

The two world powers have played for the championship in every Olympic tournament except the 2006 Turin Games, when Canada defeated Sweden after the Swedes eliminated the Americans in the semi-final round.

This time, the United States are attempting to defend their title following a 3-2 shootout win at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, which ended Canada’s Olympic run of four championships.

Cayla Barnes had a goal and assist, and Hayley Scamurra and Abby Roque, with an empty-netter, also scored for the US. (AP)