AP

US women tune up for Canada with 8-0 rout of Switzerland

Feb 5, 2022, 5:38 PM | Updated: Feb 6, 2022, 12:53 pm

United States players celebrate a goal scored against Switzerland during a preliminary round women'...

United States players celebrate a goal scored against Switzerland during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

(AP Photo/Petr David Josek)


              China players celebrate after defeating Japan in a shoot-out during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Players from China celebrate after defeating Japan in a shoot-out during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              China's Le Mi (34) skates past Japan goalkeeper Nana Fujimoto (1) after scoring the winning shoot-out goal during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Switzerland goalkeeper Andrea Braendli (20) blocks a shot against the United States during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              Switzerland's Sinja Leemann (22) and United States' Abbey Murphy (37) leap for the puck during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              United States' Hilary Knight (21) scores a goal against Switzerland goalkeeper Saskia Maurer (29) during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)
            
              United States players celebrate a goal scored against Switzerland during a preliminary round women's hockey game at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

BEIJING (AP) — Having avoided questions about their heated cross-border rivalry all week because the focus has been on the next opponent, United States women’s hockey coach Joel Johnson and his players could finally address what’s been on everyone’s minds since the Beijing Winter Games opened.

Bring on Canada.

The defending Olympic champions worked out their remaining kinks with a dominating 8-0 win over Switzerland on Sunday to prepare for their Group A finale against Canada on Tuesday.

“I think both teams think there’s no doubt that we can win, and both teams respect their opponent, but they have all the confidence in the world,” Johnson said. “I know that’s how we’re approaching it. I know that’s how Canada is approaching it. And that’s why it’s going to be fun to watch.”

Hilary Knight scored two first-period goals, Alex Cavallini stopped 12 shots, and the Americans (3-0) produced their most complete performance so far.

Kelly Pannek and Jesse Compher also scored twice on a night 13 of 19 U.S. skaters earned at least a point.

“I was really happy with how we played. Just felt like we finally put together a full three periods,” defender Lee Stecklein said. “Looking forward to hopefully a practice day tomorrow and then excited for Canada as always.”

The goal eruption came against a Swiss team which had been outscored by a combined 17-3 in losing its first two games, including a 12-1 loss to Canada on Thursday. It also provided the Americans some momentum a day after they had 62 shots but struggled finishing in a 5-0 win over the Russian team.

Cavallini, who won an NCAA championship with Wisconsin in 2011, won in her Olympic debut. She had considered retiring following the 2018 Winter Games.

“It was a long road to get here,” Cavallini said. “To be here again is really special and I seriously can’t thank my teammates enough for making it that much more special tonight.”

The road became even longer when Johnson revealed the goalie had been dealing with “some injury stuff” in recent months, without being specific.

“For her to play as well as she has and to recover and to be in my mind at 100%, it’s just fun to see,” Johnson said. “She played great and all the credit goes to her.”

Cavallini’s best save came 8 1/2 minutes into the second period, in getting across to her left to stop the Swiss on a 2-on-1 break.

Johnson has now rotated in all three of his goalies, with Nicole Hensley getting the shutout against ROC.

Knight opened the scoring by driving to the net and converting her own rebound for a power-play goal 5:40 in. The game was essentially over when Compher, Knight and Pannek scored in a span of 2:11 to put the U.S. up 4-0 by the 16:15 mark of the first period.

Knight now has nine career Olympic goals to tie Monique Lamoureux-Morando for fifth on the U.S. list. And she increased her Olympic point total to 22, one behind Katie King, who ranks third.

Amanda Kessel and Dani Cameranesi also scored.

Switzerland, making its fifth Olympic appearance, is being outclassed at Beijing after finishing fourth at the world championships in August, and eight years after winning the bronze medal at the Sochi Games.

Saskia Maurer, making her Winter Games debut, stopped 17 of 22 shots before being pulled after one period. Andrea Braendli finished with 41 saves over the final two.

Rather than be discouraged by the outcome, Swiss captain Lara Stalder said playing elite opponents such as the U.S. and Canada is an important measuring stick to see how much her team still needs to grow.

“We have a lot of young players that need to learn how to play those games, that you’ve got to do everything it takes for the team, and you’ve got to check your ego,” Stalder said, noting Switzerland is already guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals.

“We can’t get too low. And we’ve got to battle tomorrow, maybe get a win tomorrow and then be ready,” she added, looking ahead to facing Finland.

In the day’s only other game, Le Mi scored the lone shootout goal to secure host China a 2-1 win over Japan. By virtue of the shootout loss, Japan (2-0-1) earned a point to secure one of Group B’s three spots in the quarterfinals, the furthest the nation’s women’s team has advanced in three Olympic appearances.

China (2-1), in its Olympic debut, can clinch a quarterfinal berth with a win over Sweden in its final preliminary round game, or with one more loss by Sweden (0-2) or Denmark (0-2).

___

More AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/winter-olympics and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

US women tune up for Canada with 8-0 rout of Switzerland