Winter Olympics Ice Hockey: Old rivalry reignites in Canada vs US Women's Hockey Final: Preview and How to Watch

Since the Olympic debut of women's ice hockey at Nagano 1998, two nations have stood tallest.

And at Beijing 2022, for the sixth time in seven finals, reigning champions United States and Canada will again play for gold with Canada leading the head-to-head 3-2.

The last two gold medal games went to overtime with Marie-Philip Poulin scoring to clinch victory for Canada at Sochi 2014, and Maddie Rooney's shootout heroics four years later securing Team USA their first gold since Nagano.

Their duopoly stretches to the World Championship with no other team taking the trophy since its inception in 1990.

Canada definitely go into the match as favourites having beaten Team USA 4-2 in last Tuesday's preliminary group meeting.

They also made lighter work of their semi-final, thumping Switzerland 10-3 with USA defeating Finland 4-1 after a scoreless first period.

But those results will count for little ahead of the latest instalment in what is becoming one of the greatest rivalries in all of sport.

After the win over Switzerland, Canada captain Poulin said, "Obviously the 2018 game is in the back of our head but we've just got to move forward and focus on the next game."

Claire Thompson added, "We've got one game left and we're hoping to carry it through to the end. We just want to keep things rolling and we're just excited to get to play in the finals.

Like Poulin, USA forward Hilary Knight has played in each of the last three finals.

She said after the semi-finals, "It's the most beautiful rivalry in sport. "It gets the best and the worst out of both of us at the same time. It's a wonderful game."

This was the first time women's ice hockey was played at the Olympic Winter Games and, as expected, Canada and USA met in the final.

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