MILAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United States delivered a commanding performance in women's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday, blanking archrival Canada 5-0 to finish atop Group A with a perfect 4-0 record.
The emphatic win marked a statement response from the Americans following their defeat to Canada in the women's hockey final at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, underscoring their sharp execution and collective intensity at this year's tournament.
Hannah Bilka scored twice, while Abbey Murphy laid on three assists. Goaltender Aerin Frankel anchored the defense with a 20-save shutout, as the U.S. controlled the game from start to finish.
"We're playing a good brand of hockey, and we're just sticking to it," said U.S. defender Laila Edwards. "We're sticking to the principles and that benefits us."
Canada played without captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who missed the match due to injury. Canada's final Group A standing will be decided after a postponed game against Finland on Thursday, which will also determine its quarterfinal matchup.
Also in Group A, Finland earned its first victory of the tournament with a 3-1 win over Switzerland, keeping its hopes of a top-four finish alive.
Sweden secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Japan in its final Group B match, completing a flawless preliminary round and positioning the team for a quarterfinal clash against Group A's third-place finisher. The win ended Japan's Olympic campaign with one win and three losses, while Sweden, seeking its first medal since 2006, advanced to the knockout stage.
Germany also secured a quarterfinal berth from Group B, defeating Italy 2-1. ■
