MILAN — In what was likely a gold-medal game preview between women’s hockey powers the United States and Canada, the Americans picked up right where they left off in their dominant four-game sweep of their rivals to the north earlier this winter.
There’s no denying that this time Canada was without Marie-Philip Poulin, who is still regarded as the best player in the world. She sustained a lower-body injury Monday night against the Czech Republic and missed Tuesday’s preliminary round game against the United States.
But with Poulin in the lineup, the U.S. outscored Canada 24-7 in four Rivalry Series victories in November and December and easily took a 5-0 victory on a new battlefield at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Caroline Harvey, the two-time Olympian and presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming PWHL draft, picked up right where she left off after a three-point performance the night before against Switzerland. She scored another goal and two assists.
Abbey Murphy had three assists. Hannah Bilka also scored two more goals, Kirsten Simms and Laila Edwards added the other goals.
The United States, who have three shutouts in four games, improved to 4-0 in the Olympics and have outscored their opponents 20-1.
All of USA Hockey men’s management was in the crowd, as were most of the players to support the women’s national team.
This was the final game of group play for the United States, who advanced to the quarterfinals to play Italy. Canada plays Finland on Thursday – a rescheduled prelim game due to Team Finland’s norovirus outbreak.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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