BEIJING (AP) 鈥� Having avoided questions about their heated cross-border rivalry all week because the focus has been on the next opponent, United States women鈥檚 hockey coach Joel Johnson and his players could finally address what鈥檚 been on everyone鈥檚 minds since the Beijing Winter Games opened.
Bring on sa国际传媒.
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 sa国际传媒 on Tuesday.
鈥淚 think both teams think there鈥檚 no doubt that we can win, and both teams respect their opponent, but they have all the confidence in the world,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淚 know that鈥檚 how we鈥檙e approaching it. I know that鈥檚 how sa国际传媒 is approaching it. And that鈥檚 why it鈥檚 going to be fun to watch.鈥�
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.
鈥淚 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 sa国际传媒 as always.鈥�
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 sa国际传媒 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.
鈥淚t was a long road to get here,鈥� Cavallini said. 鈥淭o be here again is really special and I seriously can鈥檛 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 鈥渟ome injury stuff鈥� in recent months, without being specific.
鈥淔or her to play as well as she has and to recover and to be in my mind at 100%, it鈥檚 just fun to see,鈥� Johnson said. 鈥淪he played great and all the credit goes to her.鈥�
Cavallini鈥檚 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 sa国际传媒 is an important measuring stick to see how much her team still needs to grow.
鈥淲e have a lot of young players that need to learn how to play those games, that you鈥檝e got to do everything it takes for the team, and you鈥檝e got to check your ego,鈥� Stalder said, noting Switzerland is already guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 get too low. And we鈥檝e got to battle tomorrow, maybe get a win tomorrow and then be ready,鈥� she added, looking ahead to facing Finland.
In the day鈥檚 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鈥檚 three spots in the quarterfinals, the furthest the nation鈥檚 women鈥檚 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).
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John Wawrow, The Associated Press
