Ice hockey-US wallop Canada, Germany beat Italy and Sweden stay perfect

MILAN, Feb 10 : The United States stunned arch rivals Canada 5-0 at the Milano Cortina Games on Tuesday, while Germany took second place in Group B after a 2-1 win over Italy and Sweden ended the group stage of the women's Olympic ice hockey tournament unbeaten with a 4-0 win over Japan.

The top-ranked Americans are hungry for revenge after losing to Canada in the gold-medal game four years ago and sent a message with a lop-sided drubbing that few expected from the typically well-matched powerhouse teams at Santagiulia Arena.

The win saw the United States clinch the top spot in Group A, while Canada, which had never before been shut out in women's Olympic play, have more work to do before the knockouts with a game against Finland on Thursday.

Forward Hannah Bilka scored twice while forward Kirsten Simms and defenders Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards added goals, as Canada were suffering without their long-time leader Marie-Philip Poulin, who was injured on Monday.

The game at Santagiulia was widely expected to be a preview of the championship, with the United States and Canada the only two nations to top the podium since the event joined the Olympic programme in 1998.

SWEDES TOP GROUP B

The Swedes won all four games to finish first in Group B on 12 points, with the top three sides advancing to the last eight.

Germany end with eight points, two ahead of Italy, with both sides already assured of their place in the last eight before Tuesday's puck drop. Japan ended with three points and France one, as both countries were eliminated.

After a scoreless opening period, the Italians took the lead 21 seconds after the interval at Milano Rho Arena. With many fans still returning to their seats, Justine Reyes scored following a face-off,