OLYMPICS: Ice hockey-US wallop Canada, Finland beat Swiss, Germany edge Italy and Sweden stay perfect

MILAN – The United States delivered a stunning 5-0 victory over arch-rivals Canada on Tuesday at the Milano Cortina Games, while Finland defeated Switzerland 3-1 in the other Group A match of the women's Olympic ice hockey tournament.

In Group B action, Germany claimed second place after a 2-1 win over Italy, and Sweden ended the group stage unbeaten with a 4-0 victory over Japan.

The top-ranked Americans were seeking revenge after losing to Canada in the gold-medal game four years ago. They sent a strong message with a dominant performance that few expected from two typically evenly matched powerhouse teams at Santagiulia Arena.

The win secured the United States the top spot in Group A. Canada, shut out for the first time in Olympic women’s hockey history, will face Finland on Thursday and currently sit second with six points.

Forward Hannah Bilka scored twice, while forward Kirsten Simms and defenders Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards each added a goal. Canada was missing long-time leader Marie-Philip Poulin, who was injured on Monday.

The matchup at Santagiulia had been widely anticipated as a preview of the championship, as the United States and Canada are the only nations to have won Olympic gold in women’s ice hockey since the sport joined the program in 1998. The U.S. will meet hosts Italy in the quarterfinals.

Finland Jumps to Early Lead Against Switzerland

After a scoreless first period, Finland opened the scoring on the first power play of the game. Viivi Vainikka scored Finland’s first goal of the Games early in the second period, followed by Julia Liikala six minutes later to make it 2-0.

Switzerland pulled one back with a shorthanded goal from Alina Muller three minutes before the end of the second period, carrying the puck from the neutral zone to the net. Finland responded immediately while still on the power play, as Sanni Vanhanen scored to make it 3-1, the final score.

The result leaves Switzerland at the bottom of the group with two points, while Finland sits fourth with three points. Finland can overtake Canada with a win in their upcoming match. The Czech Republic occupies third place with four points after completing all four group games.

All five teams in Group A advance to the quarterfinals, with seeding determined by final group standings.

Swedes Dominate Group B

Sweden finished first in Group B with a perfect record of four wins and 12 points. The top three teams from the group advance to the quarterfinals.

Germany ended with eight points, two ahead of Italy, with both teams already assured of a place in the last eight before Tuesday’s matches. Japan finished with three points and France with one, with both eliminated from the tournament.

After a scoreless opening period, Italy took the lead 21 seconds into the second at Milano Rho Arena. Justine Reyes scored off a face-off, tipping Anna Caumo’s initial shot into the net. Germany tied the game in the second period as Emily Nix forced the puck home from inside the crease. Laura Kluge netted the winner for Germany with less than two minutes remaining, silencing the Italian fans.

Sweden opened their game in the sixth minute with Hanna Thuvik’s rebound goal, shortly after teammate Hilda Svensson was injured in a collision with Japan’s Ayaka Hitosato. Josefin Bouveng doubled the lead six minutes into the second period, followed by a late second-period goal from Mira Hallin. Hanna Olsson added a fourth goal early in the third period on a power play, her second of the Games.

-Reporting by Trevor Stynes, additional reporting by Janina Nuno Rios in Milan; Editing by Ken Ferris and Bill Berkrot/Reuters