USA 7, Sweden 1

Some things never change

USA to face Canada in championship final

 Team U.S.A. had an easy time with Team Sweden, outscoring them 7-1 and outshooting them 47-14.

 Alana Blahoski lead her team with two goals and and assist.

 "Whether we're playing a team that may not have as much talent as us, whatever the circumstances may be, we're going to go out there and play 100 per cent," said Karen Bye, who scored two goals on the night.

 And when they face a team like Canada?

 "They're going to be a little more quicker than (Sweden). They're going to play a little more physical and we just got to go out there and move the puck.

 "I think in tonight's game, there were a few times where we did slow down to Sweden's pace. That's something that you can get away with a team like Sweden and still win 7-1. But against Canada, we need to go out there and play hard the entire game."

 Team U.S.A. head coach Ben Smith liked what he saw on the ice, but wasn't pleased with the team's effort in the first period.

 "We were obviously in a situation where we were coming into this tournament looking to get ourselves into the position we find ourselves right now. Our players worked extremely hard over the last two periods."

 When asked who was starting in net against Canada, Smith simply said "Sara(h)." Both starters are a tightly guarded secret leading up to the final.

 Team U.S.A. opened the scoring early in the first when Blahoski beat Swedish goalie Lotta Gothesson upstairs following a rebound.

 The Americans continued their dominance throughout the first, registering 18 shots. But Gothesson was up to the challenge for the rest of the period, including stopping a breakaway by Katie King.

 But Team U.S.A. poured it on in the second period.

 Brandy Fisher made it 2-0 when she picked up the puck in front of the net off a Swedish stick and banged it off the post and in. Then Karen Bye tipped in a point shot from Winny Brodt half-way through the period.

 In between those goals, Sweden's momentum was shot when Evelina Samuelsson went on a breakaway, but was stopped point-blank by Tueting.

 Team U.S.A. kept the pressure on late in the second, and it payed off when Shelley Looney padded the lead to 4-0.

 Sweden broke Sarah Tueting's shutout bid early in the third when Lotta Almblad passed the puck from the corner to Kristina Bergstrand in front, who then wristed a shot to the far corner.

 "We just played a team that was stronger than us," said Swedish coach Christian Yngve.

 Midway through the third period, Pernilla Burholm landed heavily backwards into Team U.S.A.'s bench door when it opened up. She was taken off the ice on a stretcher. But the prognosis is good.

 "All we know is that she's not seriously hurt," said Coach Yngve. "She got her knee bumped a little bit, but will probably play tomorrow (against Finland)."

 Team U.S.A. would add three more goals from Krissy Wendell, Blahoski and Bye in the third to round out the scoring.

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