VANCOUVER — The Canadians did their part.
The United States and Canada’s women’s hockey teams, long on a collision course since the pairings were announced long before the start of the games, will play for gold.
Both teams plowed through their groups, the U.S. reaching Thursday’s gold-medal game with a 9-1 victory over Sweden in Monday’s first semifinal.
Canada followed with a 5-0 win over Finland at Canada Hockey Place in the other semi to continue its quest for its third consecutive gold. The U.S and Canada will play for gold for the third time in the last four Olympics.
The Canadians got first-period goals from Cherie Piper and Haley Irwin, one by Meghan Agosta in the second and Irwin and Caroline Ouellette in the third. Only stellar play by Swedish goaltender Noora Raty (45 saves) prevented Canada from its fourth blowout in as many games of the tournament.
Shannon Szabados earned the shutout in goal for Canada.
The U.S defeated Canada to win the inaugural Olympic tournament in Nagano, Japan, in 1998 and Canada turned the tables in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 2002. Canada won gold again in ’06 against Sweden in Turin, Italy, while the U.S. took bronze.