Olympics: U.S. beats Canada to complete perfect preliminary round in women's hockey

MILAN — Hannah Bilka scored twice, and the United States' youth and speed overwhelmed a Canadian women's hockey team missing its captain in a 5-0 win at the Milan Cortina Games on Tuesday. The lopsided victory clinched first place for the U.S. in Group A entering the quarterfinals, and continued confirming why the Americans entered the tournament as favorites. Team USA swept all four preliminary-round games by a combined score of 20-1, and brought back memories of how a Canadian team in its prime rolled to winning gold at the 2022 Beijing Games. The tables have since turned, and it was evident on the scoresheet from a roster that features seven players still in college. The University of Wisconsin's Caroline Harvey had a goal and two assists, with Badger teammates Laila Edwards (Cleveland Heights native) and Kristen Simms also scoring. The goal was Edwards' first in her Olympic debut in being the first Black woman to represent the U.S. University of Minnesota captain Abbey Murphy set up three goals. Aerin Frankel stopped 20 shots for her third win and second shutout in her first Olympic tournament. And even 36-year-old captain Hilary Knight added an assist — the 32nd Olympic point of her career to tie Jenny Potter for most by a U.S. women's hockey player. Canada, meantime, opened tentatively, and then ran into penalty problems minus its longtime leader, Marie-Philip Poulin. Poulin was ruled out about five hours before puck drop, and a day after she limped off with an apparent lower-body injury in the first period of a 5-1 win over Czechia. The 34-year-old Poulin is considered day to day, though it's unclear when the player nicknamed "Captain Clutch" will be available for Canada's closing game of the preliminary round against Finland on Thursday. And Poulin's availability is uncertain for Saturday, when Canada is scheduled to play its quarterfinal game. The U.S. will open the quarterfinals against host nation Italy, which went 2-2 in clinching the third and final Group B playoff spot. The Americans are two-time Olympic gold medalists. Whatever "O, Canada" buzz there was amid a large Maple Leaf flag-waving capacity crowd quickly dampened on a drizzly day outside the 11,600-seat Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. And the soundtrack instead became the sound of the U.S. goal song, Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird." Harvey opened the scoring 3:45 in by driving in from the left point and snapping a shot beating Ann-Renee Desbiens. The Americans' speed and quick-strike ability was evident on their next goal when Murphy chased down Harvey's pass in the right corner. Murphy immediately spun and sent a no-look pass Bilka converted by driving to the net. Simms made it 3-0 by jamming the puck over the line 72 seconds into the second period and Murphy set up Bilka for another one-timer some six minutes later. Desbiens allowed five goals on 27 shots and was pulled after Edwards scored with 8:07 left. She was replaced by Emerance Maschmeyer, who finished with five saves. Canada's worst fears were realized in opening the game minus Poulin, after concerns were already raised after the U.S. dominated in sweeping a four-game exhibition pre-Olympic Rivalry Series. The Americans outscored Canada by a combined margin of 24-7. The U.S. has now defeated Canada in seven straight meetings, dating to the preliminary round and gold-medal game of the world championships in April. Though the Canadians kept the U.S. mostly to the perimeter, they were unable to generate any hint of a sustained offense. Canada was out-shot 11-4 through the first period -- and one shot credited to Canada included a dribbler on net from the neutral zone. Rounding out the day is Finland playing Switzerland in a Group A outing. Sweden sweeps Ebba Svensson Traff stopped 20 shots to post her first Olympic shutout and Group B champion Sweden completed its four-game preliminary round sweep with a 4-0 win over Japan. Josefin Bouveng had a goal and assist, and Hanna Thuvik, Mira Hallin and Hanna Olsson also scored. Sweden outscored its opponents by a combined 18-2, and will play Group A's third seed in the quarterfinals, which will be played on Friday and Saturday. Sweden forward Hilda Svensson did not return after falling awkwardly into the boards five minutes into the game. The severity of her injury was not immediately known. Japan finished 1-3, with its only victory coming against France, which finished the tournament 0-3-1. The ninth-place finish is the lowest for Japan in its five Olympic appearances, and after the nation finished sixth at the 2022 Beijing Games. Germany beats Italy 2-1 Laura Kluge's breakaway goal with 1:29 left in regulation secured Germany's 2-1 win over Italy and second place in the Group B standings. Emily Nix also scored for Germany. Justine Reyes scored for Italy, which advanced for the first time in two Olympic appearances — both as the host team.