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Stakes were high on Sunday night when Team USA and Team Finland faced off with the Olympic gold medal game on the line. In the end, the US team dominated this game with a 5-0 shutout and advanced to the gold medal game.
The US learned a few lessons from when they met Finland in the preliminary round. After their last game, U.S. defender Lee Stecklein talked about the need to get more shots on goal in order to score against a phenomenal goalie like Finalnd’s Noora Raty.
The US team took this to heart, out-shooting Finland 38 to 14. More shots, indeed!
Gigi Marvin started things off for the US. She caught a pass from the goal line and put it past Raty less than three minutes in to the first period to make it 1-0.
If @GigiMarvin could be piped into every living room in America for a week we would quadruple hockey participation immediately!#enthusiasm
— SeattleJrHockey (@SeattleJrHockey) February 19, 2018
Halfway through the first period, some nasty knee on knee contact between Meghan Duggan and Ronja Savolainen caused Savolainen to slam head first in to the boards. As she was helped off the ice by her team mates, there was discussion by announcers about an upcoming penalty for the US. Ultimately, the US team caught a break and full-strength play continued.
In the dying minutes of the first period, a turnover in Finland’s zone landed on Dani Cameranesi’s stick who shot it past Raty to make it 2-0. A dominant start for Team USA and a much different game than when they played Finland in the preliminary matches.
Finland couldn’t get any momentum up in the second period. After taking two penalties to give the US a 5 on 3 power play, the Finland team is too exhausted to defend against a Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson shot from the left dot. 3-0, Team USA.
Less than a minute later, Hilary Knight redirected the puck in to score her first 2018 Olympic goal. 4-0, Team USA.
.@HilaryKnight's all smiles after notching her first goal of the 2018 #WinterOlympics. pic.twitter.com/E3KXxJaUDJ
— Olympic Hockey on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) February 19, 2018
Cameranesi opened up the third period by scoring her second goal of the game. This put the nail in the coffin for Finland’s comeback hopes. 5-0, Team USA.
In the end, Team Finland’s world-class goaltender couldn’t save them from their own penalties and the puck dominance of the US.
Team USA will advance to the gold medal game on Wednesday February 21st at 8pm PST.
Hilary Knight on gold-medal game: "This is the world's biggest stage. This is the game that you want. This is the game we've been dreaming of."
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) February 19, 2018