The defending Olympic champion Americans beat Finland 5-2 in their Beijing opener and are aiming to advance to their fourth consecutive Olympic final.
photo: Andre Ringuette / HHOF-IIHF Images
The 2022 Olympic women’s hockey semi-finals take place on Valentine’s Day. But Monday's Canada-Switzerland and U.S.-Finland matchups have nothing to do with chocolates or roses.
This is all about whether either Finland or Switzerland can get a surprising shot at the finest jewellery in sports – an Olympic gold medal – or whether the U.S. and Canada will advance, as expected, and renew their storied cross-border rivalry with no love lost. If the latter, it would be the seventh out of eight Olympic finals featuring the North American superpowers.
Let’s take a closer look at the two semi-finals at Beijing’s Wukesong Sports Centre. All times are local.
This is all about whether either Finland or Switzerland can get a surprising shot at the finest jewellery in sports – an Olympic gold medal – or whether the U.S. and Canada will advance, as expected, and renew their storied cross-border rivalry with no love lost. If the latter, it would be the seventh out of eight Olympic finals featuring the North American superpowers.
Let’s take a closer look at the two semi-finals at Beijing’s Wukesong Sports Centre. All times are local.
Canada vs. Switzerland (12:10 local time, 5:10 CET, 23:10 ET)
The good news for Switzerland is that sniper Alina Muller is heating up at the right time. The 2014 Olympic bronze medalist ranks eighth overall in tournament scoring with eight points in five games, including two late goals and an assist to lift the Swiss over the ROC team 4-2 in the quarter-final.The bad news, of course, is that unbeaten Canada has eight of the top 10 Olympic scorers, with three-time Olympian Natalie Spooner sitting first overall (13 points). The Swedes never had a prayer in their 11-0 quarter-final loss to coach Troy Ryan’s team, just like the Swiss didn’t in their 12-1 opening loss. Canada – which won four Olympic gold medals between 2002 and 2014 – looks determined to regain the title it lost to the Americans in 2018, and it’s staging an assault on the record books in the process.
“I don't think we set out every game to hit double-digit goals,” said Canada’s Sarah Fillier, who, as a 21-year-old Olympic rookie, shares the overall goals lead (eight) with veteran Brianne Jenner. “We’re playing within our system and our system is to produce offence. We’re just burying the puck at a pretty efficient rate.”
“Efficient” is an understatement. The Canadians boast 44 goals – just four shy of the single-tournament record from 2010 – on 250 shots (17.6 shooting percentage) and a power play that’s clicking at a whopping 50 percent (10-for-20). Canada’s persistence, creativity, speed, and strength looks even greater than during its 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship run to gold in Calgary.
If the Swiss don’t overachieve defensively, the semi-final storylines will focus on Fillier and Jenner equalling or topping 2010 MVP Meghan Agosta’s Olympic-record nine goals. Or Spooner and captain Marie-Philip Poulin (10 assists apiece) threatening Hayley Wickenheiser’s 2010 record of 12 assists. Even without the injured Melodie Daoust, the MVP of the 2018 Olympics and 2021 Women’s Worlds, these forwards have been on fire.
That’s to say nothing of how marvelously Canada’s revitalized defence corps is playing in transition (34 points altogether, led by Claire Thompson’s new Olympic record of nine points) or how the tournament-leading goalie duo of Ann-Renee Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer (combined 1.00 GAA, 95.3 save percentage) has performed.
Canadian assistant captain Blayre Turnbull said that the adversity her team has endured since 2018 – including the disappointing 2019 Women’s Worlds bronze medal, the CWHL’s collapse, and the global pandemic – has built character: “Everything we have been through has brought us closer together and made us stronger. That strength really helps the team connect and that shows on the ice.”
Now, in fairness, the Swiss should be better than what they showed on Day One versus Canada. It’s just that – even if, say, Muller and captain Lara Stalder (3+3=6) both score in the semi-finals and top goalie Andrea Braendli records 50 saves – Switzerland will still almost certainly fall short by a goodly margin. It’ll be tough to equal the emotion they mustered against ROC, let alone compete on the scoreboard.
“Efficient” is an understatement. The Canadians boast 44 goals – just four shy of the single-tournament record from 2010 – on 250 shots (17.6 shooting percentage) and a power play that’s clicking at a whopping 50 percent (10-for-20). Canada’s persistence, creativity, speed, and strength looks even greater than during its 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship run to gold in Calgary.
If the Swiss don’t overachieve defensively, the semi-final storylines will focus on Fillier and Jenner equalling or topping 2010 MVP Meghan Agosta’s Olympic-record nine goals. Or Spooner and captain Marie-Philip Poulin (10 assists apiece) threatening Hayley Wickenheiser’s 2010 record of 12 assists. Even without the injured Melodie Daoust, the MVP of the 2018 Olympics and 2021 Women’s Worlds, these forwards have been on fire.
That’s to say nothing of how marvelously Canada’s revitalized defence corps is playing in transition (34 points altogether, led by Claire Thompson’s new Olympic record of nine points) or how the tournament-leading goalie duo of Ann-Renee Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer (combined 1.00 GAA, 95.3 save percentage) has performed.
Canadian assistant captain Blayre Turnbull said that the adversity her team has endured since 2018 – including the disappointing 2019 Women’s Worlds bronze medal, the CWHL’s collapse, and the global pandemic – has built character: “Everything we have been through has brought us closer together and made us stronger. That strength really helps the team connect and that shows on the ice.”
Now, in fairness, the Swiss should be better than what they showed on Day One versus Canada. It’s just that – even if, say, Muller and captain Lara Stalder (3+3=6) both score in the semi-finals and top goalie Andrea Braendli records 50 saves – Switzerland will still almost certainly fall short by a goodly margin. It’ll be tough to equal the emotion they mustered against ROC, let alone compete on the scoreboard.
Wondering if coach Colin Muller’s squad could pull off an upset with special teams? That hope fades when you consider that even though the Canadians are tied with ROC for the most PIM (56), they also boast the best Olympic penalty-killing (two goals against on 27 disadvantages, 92.5 percent).
Canada has won all four previous Olympic meetings, outscoring Switzerland 30-2. At least the Swiss, who squeaked out a fourth-place finish in Calgary, can use the overwhelming odds against them to take the pressure off in this semi-final.
“We are going to go out there and do our best,” said Switzerland’s Dominique Ruegg. “Let's see what happens. We have nothing to lose.”
Canada has won all four previous Olympic meetings, outscoring Switzerland 30-2. At least the Swiss, who squeaked out a fourth-place finish in Calgary, can use the overwhelming odds against them to take the pressure off in this semi-final.
“We are going to go out there and do our best,” said Switzerland’s Dominique Ruegg. “Let's see what happens. We have nothing to lose.”
USA vs. Finland (21:10 local time, 15:10 EET, 8:10 ET)
Ever since the 2019 Women’s Worlds final, a U.S.-Finland matchup inevitably sparks flashbacks. In Espoo, the Americans controversially eked out a 2-1 shootout win for their fifth straight world title when Petra Nieminen’s overtime goal was disallowed following a lengthy video review.Here in Beijing, the Finns got off to a rough start, falling 5-2 to the Americans, 11-1 to Canada, and 3-2 to the Swiss. The exclusion of superstar goalie Noora Raty from the roster and the sudden departure of head coach Pasi Mustonen due to family health matters cast long shadows over this team.
However, Nieminen has keyed Finland’s resurrection, tallying a hat trick and two assists in an emphatic 7-1 quarter-final romp over Japan. Her star veteran linemates Michelle Karvinen and Susanna Tapani stepped up on Saturday as well with a goal and two assists apiece.
So with the rematch against the defending Olympic champions now at hand, the Finns appear to be in a better space to at least challenge for more than a bronze medal. No women’s team has finished third at the Winter Games more frequently than Suomi (1998, 2010, 2018).
“[The Americans] have really good skills in their team,” said legendary Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski, whose average ice time is 27:15 per game. “We need to play as one unit, defend really hard, as we know it is a really big challenge.”
Goalie Anni Keisala has allowed just one goal in her last two outings, including a 5-0 shutout over the ROC team. The 24-year-old will need to be on top of her game again for the Finns to have a chance.
The Americans would remain the favourites to win these Olympics if Canada was somehow underachieving. Even though top centre Brianna Decker was knocked out of the opener against Finland with a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments, her longtime U.S. peers are playing solidly: four-time Olympian Hilary Knight (4+3=7), speedster captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (3+2=5), sniper Alex Carpenter (4+1=5), and so on.
So with the rematch against the defending Olympic champions now at hand, the Finns appear to be in a better space to at least challenge for more than a bronze medal. No women’s team has finished third at the Winter Games more frequently than Suomi (1998, 2010, 2018).
“[The Americans] have really good skills in their team,” said legendary Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski, whose average ice time is 27:15 per game. “We need to play as one unit, defend really hard, as we know it is a really big challenge.”
Goalie Anni Keisala has allowed just one goal in her last two outings, including a 5-0 shutout over the ROC team. The 24-year-old will need to be on top of her game again for the Finns to have a chance.
The Americans would remain the favourites to win these Olympics if Canada was somehow underachieving. Even though top centre Brianna Decker was knocked out of the opener against Finland with a broken leg and torn ankle ligaments, her longtime U.S. peers are playing solidly: four-time Olympian Hilary Knight (4+3=7), speedster captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (3+2=5), sniper Alex Carpenter (4+1=5), and so on.
However, despite leading the tournament with 292 shots, coach Joel Johnson’s team has self-admittedly struggled with “quantity over quality” issues. They outshot newcomer Czechia 59-6 in their 4-1 quarter-final win, but veteran blueliner Lee Stecklein’s go-ahead goal only came at 6:49 of the third period. It’s also worrisome that ultra-talented young forwards like Abby Roque (0+1=1), Grace Zumwinkle (1+0=1), and Abbey Murphy (0+1=1) haven’t contributed more to this point.
Knight explained the approach her team must take after struggling to solve Czech goalie Klara Peslarova: “These goalies are great at this level, and you really have to challenge them, especially if you’ve got a team that’s going to pack it in in front of them, that makes it really hard to get in up front. We’ve really got to throw different looks in on them and one’s going to finally bounce in.”
If the Finns are to upset the U.S for the first time in ten Olympic tries, they could use some secondary scoring beyond Nieminen’s line. This would be a perfect time for an Elisa Holopainen (1+1=2), Viivi Vainikka (1+1=2), or Noora Tulus (0+4=4) to light the red lamp. Among defenders, 19-year-old Nelli Laitinen (3+3=6), a soon-to-be University of Minnesota Golden Gopher, is activating effectively, racking up three assists against the Japanese.
Yet with due respect to Finnish veterans Minttu Tuominen and Ronja Savolainen, the U.S. still has a clear edge on the blue line with two-way pairings like Olympic veteran Megan Keller, averaging a team-high 23:57 a night, and rookie Savannah Harmon, leading U.S. defenders in scoring (2+4=6). The fact that gifted youngsters like Jincy Dunne and Caroline Harvey are seeing so little ice time is something of a mystery.
Special teams might be an area where the Finns could capitalize. Their power play, which delivered Tapani’s two goals in the earlier loss to the Americans, is clicking at 36.8 percent (seven goals on 19 opportunities) to the U.S.’s 20.8 percent (five goals on 24 opportunities. Both teams have allowed three power goals, although the Americans – whose 72.7 PK percentage pales next to Finland’s 85.0 – also deserve some credit for taking just 11 minors to Finland’s 20.
Realistically, the Finns can’t allow the U.S. to score more than twice if they aspire to make their first Olympic gold medal game ever. The Americans will lay it all out there, hungry for another shot at archrival Canada, who have beaten them three straight times in IIHF play. The U.S. has better odds of advancing, but this should be a tense and entertaining semi-final. No chocolates or roses required.
“We’re playing for our lives now,” Stecklein said.
Knight explained the approach her team must take after struggling to solve Czech goalie Klara Peslarova: “These goalies are great at this level, and you really have to challenge them, especially if you’ve got a team that’s going to pack it in in front of them, that makes it really hard to get in up front. We’ve really got to throw different looks in on them and one’s going to finally bounce in.”
If the Finns are to upset the U.S for the first time in ten Olympic tries, they could use some secondary scoring beyond Nieminen’s line. This would be a perfect time for an Elisa Holopainen (1+1=2), Viivi Vainikka (1+1=2), or Noora Tulus (0+4=4) to light the red lamp. Among defenders, 19-year-old Nelli Laitinen (3+3=6), a soon-to-be University of Minnesota Golden Gopher, is activating effectively, racking up three assists against the Japanese.
Yet with due respect to Finnish veterans Minttu Tuominen and Ronja Savolainen, the U.S. still has a clear edge on the blue line with two-way pairings like Olympic veteran Megan Keller, averaging a team-high 23:57 a night, and rookie Savannah Harmon, leading U.S. defenders in scoring (2+4=6). The fact that gifted youngsters like Jincy Dunne and Caroline Harvey are seeing so little ice time is something of a mystery.
Special teams might be an area where the Finns could capitalize. Their power play, which delivered Tapani’s two goals in the earlier loss to the Americans, is clicking at 36.8 percent (seven goals on 19 opportunities) to the U.S.’s 20.8 percent (five goals on 24 opportunities. Both teams have allowed three power goals, although the Americans – whose 72.7 PK percentage pales next to Finland’s 85.0 – also deserve some credit for taking just 11 minors to Finland’s 20.
Realistically, the Finns can’t allow the U.S. to score more than twice if they aspire to make their first Olympic gold medal game ever. The Americans will lay it all out there, hungry for another shot at archrival Canada, who have beaten them three straight times in IIHF play. The U.S. has better odds of advancing, but this should be a tense and entertaining semi-final. No chocolates or roses required.
“We’re playing for our lives now,” Stecklein said.