2018-19 National Women's Team

U.S. BEATS SWEDEN, WILL PLAY FOR 4 NATIONS GOLD

ALI WILSON

SASKATOON, Sask. – Sydney Brodt, Melissa Samoskevich and Hannah Brandt scored first-period goals, helping the United States finish a perfect preliminary round and book a spot in the gold medal game at the 2018 4 Nations Cup with a 5-1 win over Sweden on Friday afternoon.

The Americans will play for gold Saturday night (8 p.m. CT, TSN) against whoever wins the preliminary-round finale between Canada and Finland.

Kendall Coyne Schofield got the play started on the opening goal, forcing a turnover at the U.S. blue-line. Her shot was turned away by goaltender Emma Söderberg, but Boldt buried the rebound just 4:25 in.

Samoskevich scored shorthanded just over four minutes later, and Hilary Knight found Brandt through traffic in the last minute of the period to give the Americans a 3-0 lead into the first intermission.

U.S. captain Brianna Decker added a fourth goal early in the second period, stepping around a pair of Swedish defenders before going top shelf for a power-play goal, but Sabina Kuller answered back for the Scandinavians, letting go a shot just inside the blue-line that ended the shutout for U.S. goaltender Emma Polusny.

Dani Cameranesi scored the lone goal of the third period, one-timing a quick shot past Söderberg after a won face-off by Brandt.

The loss confirms a spot in the bronze-medal game for the Swedes, who will face the loser of the Canada-Finland game on Saturday afternoon (3 p.m. CT).