NEWYou can now listen to Pakinomist articles!
The USA women’s ice hockey team is a freight train that destroys everything in its path.
The Americans earned their fourth win in as many games to open the Milan Cortina Games with another blowout, this one a 5-0 win over Canada — their third straight 5-0 victory.
In the contest, Hilary Knight tied the American record for most career points in USA Olympic women’s hockey history with an assist in the first period.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON Pakinomist
Hilary Knight of Team United States celebrates a goal scored by Caroline Harvey in the first period during the women’s opening Group A match between the United States and Canada on day four of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
The USA scored two goals in each of the first two periods. Two were scored by Hannah Bilka and each was assisted by Abbey Murphy.
It is now the Americans’ seventh straight win over Canada, one shy of the rivalry’s all-time record. They have outscored their opponents 25-1 so far, with the Czech Republic scoring the only goal in the very first game.
The contest will be a preview of the gold medal game, as six of the seven gold medal games in Olympic history have been between Canada and the United States. Canada has won four of them, including the most recent in 2022.
Team United’s Kirsten Simms (9) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal in the second period during the women’s opening Group A match between the United States and Canada on day four of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
OLYMPIC MEDALIST VOLUNTARILY ADMITS CHEATING WITH ‘GOLD MEDAL’ BOYFRIEND OF 6 MONTHS IN EMOTIONAL INTERVIEW
Canada and the United States have also met in the gold medal game at 23 of 24 IIHF Women’s World Championships and 21 of 23 4 Nations Cups since international play began in 1987. Barring the pandemic, the last time the two countries did not meet in a gold medal game at any international tournament was 2019, and IIHF World Championships were No. 199 before that year). Canada settled for bronze at the 2019 World Championships, while the United States defeated Finland. It remains the only year Canada did not finish with gold or silver, while the American streak of playing for gold remains intact.
However, Canada has only won gold or silver in seven Olympics, while the Americans had to settle for bronze in 2006.
Caroline Harvey (4) of Team United States celebrates with teammates after a first period goal during the women’s preliminary Group A match between the United States and Canada on day four of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena on February 10, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Next comes the knockout stage on Friday, with the semi-finals played on Monday, and both the gold and bronze medal matches on February 19.
