US women beat Finland, to face Canada in Olympic final

BEIJING (AP) — Hilary Knight had a goal and assist, Alex Cavallini stopped 25 shots, and the defending Olympic champion United States defeated Finland 4-1 in the women's hockey semifinals at the Beijing Games on Monday to set up the sixth gold-medal showdown between the Americans and Canada.

The cross-border rivals will play on Thursday after Canada erupted for five first-period goals over an Olympic record span of 3:24 in a 10-3 win over Switzerland earlier in the day. The two world powers have played for the championship in every Olympic tournament but the 2006 Turin Games, when Canada defeated Sweden after the Swedes eliminated the Americans in the semifinals.

This time, the U.S. is attempting to defend its title following a 3-2 shootout win at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, which ended Canada’s Olympic run of four championships.

Cayla Barnes had a goal and assist, while Hayley Scamurra and Abby Roque, with an empty-netter, also scored for the Americans.

Barnes opened the scoring 3:39 into the second period by pinching in from the right point to convert Hannah Brandt’s pass through the crease for a power-play goal. The tripping called against Finland’s Tanja Niskanen was questionable after it appeared the U.S. player fell on her own.

Knight, playing in her U.S. women’s team record-tying 21st Olympic game, scored with 1:07 remaining in the second period. Savannah Harmon’s initial shot was blocked and Knight got to the loose puck to the left of the net and snapped it in for her 11th career Olympic goal to tie Jenny Potter for third on the USA list.

Cavallini was sharp in her third start of the tournament, and lost her shutout bid on Susanna Tapani's goal with 26 seconds remaining. Her best saves came in the final minute of