Women’s Hockey Gears Up For Semi-Finals

Team USA earned a bye for the Quarterfinals after finishing second in the Group Round and have been waiting to find out who their opponent will be in the Semifinals. Women’s Quarterfinals games completed today and the Women’s Tournament saw two teams eliminated.  Sweden defeated Finland 4-2 and will face Team USA in the Semi-Finals. Switzerland shut out the host nation, eliminating Russia and lining themselves up to face Canada.

Team Sweden shutout Germany (winning 4-0)  and Japan (winning 1-0) during the Group Round, but had lost to Russia 1-3. Team USA will face a team ranked number two for goal tending in the tournament, featuring Valentina Wallner. Wallner has a 0.938 save percentage and a 1.68 GAA, combined Team Sweden has a 0.960 save percentage and a 1.26 GAA. But Team USA has four of the top ten points leaders; Hilary Knight (#1), Kendall Coyne (#4), Amanda Kessel (#6), and Alex Carpenter (#10) while Sweden has the number two point leader, Pernilla Winberg. Team USA boasts a 4.67 Goals-For Average and score on 11.38% of their shots on goal, which is good for number one. But Sweden is a close second, scoring on 10% of their shots on goal. Special teams will definitely be a factor with Sweden being the number one power play team, and US being number two. Sweden is 2nd for penalty killing, being shorthanded 14 times and allowing 0 goals. Team USA has allowed 2 power play goals on 9 times short handed, ranking them 7th.

This will be a difficult game but if Team USA can avoid penalties and maintain the offensive production they have displayed in the tournament so far, they have a very good chance to win.

Both Semi-Final games will be played Monday 2/17, the schedule has been updated below.