Olympics: U.S. women’s hockey beats Sweden, reaches gold-medal game

MILAN — For the American women’s hockey team, the Milan-Cortina Olympic tournament was less a competition than a siege.

With their 5-0 semifinal victory over Sweden on Monday, the United States is undefeated in six games, has outscored its opponents 31-1 and has not conceded a goal since the second period of its opener, extending its scoreless streak to more than 331 minutes, the longest in tournament history.

“The best team in the world,” said Sweden’s Hanna Olsson. “They’re really good.”

No one disputes this assessment, because the Olympics have been more one-sided than an avalanche for the United States. Fifteen different Americans scored, 11 scored multiple goals. The United States scored at least five times in each of its six games, had at least one goal in 16 of the 18 periods it played and never trailed.

Kendall Coyne Schofield, top left, celebrates with her teammates after scoring against Sweden in the second period on Monday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

The United States didn’t just beat teams, they destroyed them.

“I feel so lucky to be a part of this group,” said guard Aerin Frankel. “There is so much talent in our locker room. It’s so much fun to play with the best players in the world.”

And these players will ride this huge wave of momentum into Thursday’s gold medal game, where they will face defending champion Canada, a 2-1 winner over Switzerland in the other semifinal thanks to two second-period goals from Marie-Philip Poulin.

Monday’s goals came from Cayla Barnes, Taylor Heise, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hayley Scamurra and Abbey Murphy, with the last three coming on back-to-back shots in a span of 2 minutes, 47 seconds late in the second period, turning a close game into a rout. Hannah Bilka, who leads the tournament with four goals, had two assists while Frankel stopped 23 shots to post the Americans’ fifth straight shutout.

“It’s just the way we play and the way we compete,” forward Kirsten Simms said. “We always play like it’s 0-0 and it’s a close game. We always attack at the same level.

“We start early with that chase game and that kind of downhill style game. And I think we do a great job of sticking with that throughout the game, regardless of the score.”

American forward Abbey Murphy, right, scores past Swedish goalie Ebba Svensson Traff in the second period Monday.

(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)

When asked if this team was the best she had ever played for, Simms, a two-time world championship medalist, didn’t have to think long for an answer.

“From afar,” she said. “Easily. 100%.”

But here’s the scary part. Simms also said the team hasn’t reached its peak yet.

“You can always improve,” he said. “There’s obviously a ton of talent, top to bottom.”

The American speed gave opponents a hard time in Milan, but their passing, puck movement and situational awareness were even better. At times, the Americans were so fast and so technical that it felt like they had two extra players on the ice.

“We’re doing really well right now,” Simms said. “We just continue to play at this level and show what we can do.”

For Frankel, he will have plenty of time to judge where the United States will rank among the best of all time once the Olympics are over. For now, there is still one match to play.

“It’s hard for me to zoom out while you’re here and look at the big picture, because you’re so focused on the day-to-day,” she said. “But I think when we look at this tournament and what we’ve done so far, it’s been incredible.

“But obviously the work is not done yet.”

There was no doubt that the Milan tournament would end in a final between the United States and Canada since six of the previous seven Olympic tournaments have ended that way. This time, however, there is a twist as it is the Americans who are ranked No. 1 in the world after beating Canada 5-0 earlier at the Milan-Cortina Games, extending their winning streak to seven in a row against their northern neighbor.

Beat Canada again on Thursday and the United States will win its second gold medal in the last three Olympics. Stumble and all the talk about the United States having the best team ever will be just that: talk.

“I want it so bad. I want it more than anything I’ve ever wanted in my life,” Scamurra said. “The whole team feels the same way. This has been our end goal and we are one step away from it.”