Canada rolls over Sweden, goes on to the semifinals in women’s hockey
The Canadians were the juggernaut in the ladies’ initial stage, and based on their performance in the quarterfinals, it looks like they are still the powerhouse in the women’s tournament. Canada wiped out Sweden 11-0 on Friday morning to advance to the semifinals, and they made it look easy.
It took just over three minutes Brianne Jennerwho did his second hat trick of the tournament on the slope, to break the ice and get his squad up on the board, and the Canadians just kept putting it up from there.
To no one’s surprise, Sarah Fillier continued its reign of terror with a couple of goals in the first period against the Swedes. Her first bill came after she barely managed to fit a quick snapshot past Swedish netminder Emma Söderberg. The game needs to be reviewed, but it was clear that the puck crossed the finish line to give Canada the lead with two goals. Her second goal came just 36 seconds later from the exact same area on the ice. She was posted right next to the fold when she quickly deflected a puck on the net that knocked in outside Söderberg. Later, she finally completed the first hat-trick of her Olympic career after clearing up her own return after a sustained increase in Canada in the offensive zone.
Reminder: Fillier is only 21 years old and has, in his first appearance in an Olympics, eight goals and 10 points in just five matches. She scores at will and she shows no signs of slowing down.
How outstanding Canada’s first period was, they somehow managed to look even more impressive in the following stanza. The Canadians scored another five goals in the second frame – including the second marker from Jenner – to take a 9-0 lead in the second half.
The Swedes were completely superior throughout the tilt, but they looked particularly fruitless in the middle third. They were eliminated 20-3 and took four penalties – two of which resulted in power-play goals for Canada.
When the attack ended, 16 different Canadians registered at least one point against Sweden and 10 had multi-point performances. Although none of them scored their own goal, Marie-Philip Poulin and Sarah is a nurse led the way for Canada with four points each. Emerance Maschmeyer also stayed perfect throughout the competition and logged the suspension with 11 savings.
Canada now goes to the semifinals with a date against either Switzerland or ROC. Their opponents will be finalized after Switzerland and ROC played their match on Friday night at 23:10 ET.
Click here to see all statistics from Canada’s win over Sweden, and click here to see the entire event in replay from start to finish.