Canadian women advance to gold medal hockey game at Winter Olympics

Canada trounced the team of Olympic athletes from Russia to win 5-0 in the women’s semifinal game at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

This means that Canada will face the United States in the gold medal game on Feb. 22. They will be chasing their fifth consecutive gold medal.

Canada took an early lead in the game on Monday with a goal by Jennifer Wakefield less than two minutes into the first period.

Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin scored in the second period. Canada was on the power play shortly after, and despite getting lots of chances, wasn’t able to score.

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Canada exploded from the start of the third period, scoring two goals in rapid succession, at 41:49 and 42:30 minutes of play. Wakefield scored again as did Emily Clark.

Canada kept the pressure on throughout the third, spending most of their time in front of Russia’s goal, taking shot after shot.

An illegal hit by a Russian player put Canada into a power play situation in the middle of the third period, and Canada was able to widen its lead with a goal from Rebecca Johnston.

The Russians called a time out immediately after, but Canada didn’t let up as the third period wound down and finished the game with a shutout.

The Olympic athletes from Russia will face Finland in the bronze medal match on Feb. 21.