Goalkeeper Anni Keisala of Team Finland saves a shot by forward Hannah Brandt in the second period during the women's ice hockey playoff semifinal match between Team United States and Team Finland at the Winter Olympic Games Beijing 2022 on Feb. 14, 2022 in Beijing.
Team USA is heading back to the Gold Medal game after a 4-1 win against Finland Monday. Hilary Knight and Cayla Barnes each scored a goal and registered an assist during the semifinal match.
Alex Cavallini made 25 saves in her third start of the tournament. Hayley Scamurra and Abby Roque also scored for the U.S. while Hannah Brandt, Savannah Harmon and Kendall Coyne Schofield each recorded an assist in the United States’ 10th straight Olympic win against Finland.
The United States will play for the Gold Medal at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 against Team Canada Wednesday February 16 at 11:10 p.m. ET. The two powerhouses have met in every Olympic gold-medal game except 2006 since the introduction of the sport at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
“To be able to say our next game is a Gold-Medal game is something pretty special,” said Alex Carpenter who played in the 2014 Olympics but was one of the final roster cuts prior to the 2018 Winter Games. “This group has been so special for me in coming back, I am looking forward to doing it with this group of 23.”
Knight also moved up the record books in several categories; she surpassed Natalie Darwitz for second place on the U.S. all-time scoring list, tied Jenny Potter for third on the U.S. all-time goal scoring list, and tied Potter and Angela Ruggiero on the most U.S. Olympics games played with 21.
Barnes scored her first of the tournament and opened the scoring with a power-play goal at 3:39 of the second period. Brandt received a pass from Knight on the side of the net and then slid the puck over to a cutting Barnes for an easy one-time finish.
“Our backs have been up against the wall a couple of times, and we had to dig deep to find ways to score,” Barnes said. “We have grown a lot and I am happy with the way we are heading.”
First Olympic goal for @Cayla_barnes27! 🙌#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/qRmN0OVN9S
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 14, 2022
Knight doubled the U.S. lead late in the second period when she picked up her fifth of the tournament. Harmon weaved her way into the high slot and snapped a wrist shot that was blocked. However, Knight was able to corral the loose puck and fire it into the back of the net to give the U.S. a 2-0 edge.
Red, Knight and Blue. 🇺🇸@HilaryKnight makes it 2-0. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/q4YR1lRa9a
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 14, 2022
“I think [Coyne Schofield) was the best player for us as a forward and carried that line,” U.S. coach Joel Johnson said. (Coyne Schofield) was really the workhorse for that group and then (Knight) does what she does well. (Brandt’s) assist to (Barnes) on the power play was an electric play, Kendall is leading the charge all night and then Hilary scores in a big spot when we need it the most. I thought that was good balance and shows you what that line can do.”
Cavallini made two incredible stops on Michelle Karvinen to keep the game scoreless toward the end of the first period. The Finnish forward tried to bury a one-time shot and her own rebound, but Cavallini was able to extend her left pad to prevent Finland from taking the lead.
Scamurra extended the U.S. lead to three goals at 15:20 of the final frame when she deflected Barnes’ slap shot from the point. Roque capped off the scoring with an empty-net goal in the final seconds, her first of the tournament.
“I don’t think we have played our best game yet,” Johnson said.
Want to follow Team USA athletes during the Olympic Games Beijing 2022? Visit TeamUSA.org/Beijing-2022-Olympic-Games to view the competition schedule, medal table and results.