USA – Sweden2 6:1 (end) | Canada2 – Switzerland 3:1 (end)
final
Canada2
3:1 (3:0, 0:1, 0:0)
Switzerland
Monday 17.02.2014, 18:00 • Shayba Arena, Sochi • Olympics - Women
     
    Despite a brave effort from the Swiss Canada have made it through to the final with a 3-1 victory! Natalie Spooner grabbed a brace for herself to get the Canadians up and running, and Melodie Daoust added a third to almost seal the game up just in the first period. Switzerland responded with a goal from Jessica Lutz in the second period and despite several chances for both teams afterwards, that was it for the scoring. Thanks for following the game with us, and join us again tomorrow for more action from the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi! (20:27:10)
     
    60:00
    Game over.
     
    59:43
    The Swiss net flies off its moorings as Canada press their opponents deep into their own zone
     
    59:40
    Schelling is still in her net as Canada pin the puck up against the boards, there's now only 20 seconds left
     
    58:25
    Time is running out and if Switzerland want to affect the final outcome they need to score very soon
     
    56:59
    Spooner! What a chance for the hat trick! Picking up the loose puck she skates from one end to the other one on one, but when going blocker side she hits the puck against the post!
     
    56:47
    Eggiman sends a low slapshot from the right hand boards into the side netting after yet another poor Canadian turnover
     
    55:39
    Canada cough up the puck right by their net and Szabados has to be very alert to bail her defenders out! The tempo of the game is really high
     
    55:10
    Marty with a snapshot while falling to the ice warms Szabados's glove
     
    54:38
    Schelling makes an excellent glove save low down at her near post. Despite the scoreline she really has been in a different class tonight
     
    54:22
    Agosta sets up Wickenheiser on the right close up and she's deneid by the goaltender's blocker!
     
    54:00
    And Canada are now back to full strength of course
     
    53:20
    Lutz! The puck bounces off Szabados's pad right to her but she can't make solid contact on the puck as the goal gaped!
     
    50:54
    Just as the Canadians are building up steam Watchorn for body checking has been sent to the penalty box, it's a powerplay opportunity for Switzerland
     
    50:36
    Johnston! She finishes off a slick Canadian move with a one timer from the top of the crease and Schelling gathers the puck in!
     
    49:08
    Schelling shuts the door on Brianne Jenner! Jenner with some fantastic skill floors her defender, goes five hole on the goalkeeper but Schelling just gets enough on it to turn it wide!
     
    48:47
    Larocque has space in the zone and fires low and Schelling sticks it aside
     
    48:21
    Icing from the Swiss
     
    47:31
    No goal! The referees rule that Agosta pushed Schelling into the goal on purpose with the puck, the Canadians are letting their feelings known but the call stands!
     
    47:31
    Agosta skates through one on one, she almost falls on top of Schelling to force the puck home and the referees are going to take a look upstairs for this!
     
    47:16
    Switzerland are playing with real confidence and pushing hard in the Canadian zone, it's not as easy for the Canadians as they would have expected
     
    46:10
    This game is really hotting up, it's end to end stuff! Stefanie Marty deflects a pass into the crease into the near post and Szabados clings on!
     
    45:23
    Schelling again is the center of attention! She makes a solid stick off a low deflected wrister from the middle of the zone!
     
    44:44
    Agosta spins around the net, feeds Spooner on the slot but the puck evades her!
     
    43:18
    Muller! At first she gets her stick on a pass into the crease from the crease and Szabalos pushes it into the boards, and then on Muller's second effort this time created all by herself Szabalos has to make a important contribution to keep the score at 3-1!
     
    42:24
    Shorthanded two on one attack from the Canadians, and Schelling makes a big save from Irwin to prevent her team from conceding what could be a killer goal!
     
    41:56
    Heford for hooking has now been called and it's Switzerland's turn to go on the powerplay
     
    41:33
    And the Swiss are now back to full strength
     
    41:23
    Watchorn! Massive blast from the right and it sails between the crease and the net!
     
    41:01
    Pheobe Stanz has a shorthanded rush for Switzerland and under pressure she wrists the puck in from distance, an effort which is comfortably pushed away
     
    40:01
    Canada start the third period on the powerplay as Forster sits in the penalty box for the Swiss
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Statistics after the opening 40 minutes of play-

    Shots on target- 38-12
    Penalty minutes- 8-10
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 11-35
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:47
    Pulin! She makes space for herself right on the doorstep and with the goalkeeper beaten she can only hit the top of the crossbar!
     
    39:33
    26 seconds before the end of an exciting second period Sarash Forster has been penalised for tripping and Canada have a big powerplay opportunity coming up
     
    37:50
    Muller leads a counterattack out and she backhands the puck into the boards! And then Spooner tries her best to bundle the puck in at the other end but Schelling makes herself big to keep it out with her foot! Spooner is getting closer to the hat trick
     
    37:08
    Wow, what a glove save from Schelling! Simply stunning! Poulin unmarked at the right post fires in to what seems like an open corner of the net but Schelling flashes leather to make a simply incredible glove save!
     
    36:31
    It's another great save from Schelling! Neat interchange from the Canadians sends Jenner free one on one, but she hits the puck against the goalkeeper!
     
    35:31
    Irwin carries the puck brilliantly away from her opposing defenders with her backhand, flicks it deftly looking for the far post but Schelling kicks it away!
     
    34:17
    Wickenheiser again causes trouble for the Swiss and her sharp pass is tipped inches over the crossbar! Canada really do attack with conviction
     
    33:38
    Wickenheiser feeds Agosta on the slot but she can't control the puck with her stick!
     
    33:08
    Apps is now back on the ice for the Canadians
     
    32:01
    Szabados! What a glove save! Muller from point blank range has the whole of the goal to aim at, goes for the right post with her backhand with a composed effort but Szabados comes up trumps!
     
    31:08
    Laura Benz almost straight after emerging back on to the ice has simply been mowed down and she's in real pain having to be helped off the ice. Apps who took her out is lucky to get away with only a two minute minor for that
     
    30:55
    Switzerland have survived that penalty and they're back to full strength
     
    30:34
    Fortino! This time Schelling was beaten all ends up but Fortino's wicked slapshot whistles past the far post!
     
    29:51
    Schelling makes an excellent pad save from a low Wickenheiser wrister as Canada work the puck well around the zone!
     
    29:08
    Spooner, looking for a hat trick, deftly deflects a slapper from the point and Schelling makes a quick reaction save!
     
    28:55
    Laura Benz for cross checking has been called and Canada have a powerplay chance to get back on track
     
    28:41
    Brief scramble on the Swiss crease and Schelling just manages to prevent the puck from escaping from under her body!
     
    28:08
    Canada need to take control of the puck better when they have it, they're making Switzerland's life easier at the moment
     
    26:35
    Icing from the Swiss. That goal should now give them renewed confidence and it should make the game much more intriguing
     
    25:14
    Goal for Team Switzerland! Just as Johnston emerges back out on to the ice the Swiss strike! JESSICA LUTZ takes full advantage of a Szabados slip behind her net to slot home after a wraparound attempt falls to her, powerplay goal and it's 3-1! Assists- Sara Benz and Lura Benz
     
    24:26
    And now for hooking Rougeau has been punished and Switzerland have a five on three powerplay for just over 30 seconds
     
    22:58
    Despite that pressure Canada are now going to be on the penalty kill, Johnston has been called just as Switzerland are back to full strength again
     
    22:47
    Heford! She finds herself one on one and Schelling stays with her and in the end manages to spread herself big enough to deny her!
     
    21:51
    Spooner! Lurking on the right hand post she just can't stretch enough to poke in the loose puck!
     
    20:47
    Schelling grabs hold of a hard attempt from the point and freezes for a faceoff with Canada putting the pressure on
     
    20:37
    Canada start the period where they finished the first, in the attack, and they already have a powerplay. Stefanie Marty for tripping has been sent to the penalty box
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Statistics after the first period-

    Shots on target- 16-5
    Penalty minutes- 2-4
    Saves made by the goalkeeper- 5-13
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:00
    We're now into the final minute of the first period which has been very successful for the Canadians
     
    18:38
    Canada move offside
     
    18:12
    Ward! She shows excellent skill working her way into the slot and she smacks the bar from point blank range!
     
    17:15
    We have a bit of a stoppage here as one of the referees receives medical treatment on her right hand following a collision with a Canadian against the boards
     
    16:47
    A pacy pass across the Swiss crease goes right through to the boards
     
    15:31
    Johnston on the right post backhands only just over the bar when well placed!
     
    14:47
    Canada are now back to full strength
     
    14:30
    Icing is committed by Switzerland
     
    13:43
    Muller right on the slot only just fails to tip the puck on target! She's one of the youngest Olympians ever at 15 years old
     
    12:47
    For having too many players on the ice the Canadians have been penalised and the shocked Swiss have a powerplay chance to get back into the game
     
    12:39
    Icing from the Swiss. And directly off the faceoff draw Schelling makes a solid glove save to catch a high long drive
     
    11:51
    The Swiss skate away on a hard rush and Szabados has to make a sharp save at her right hand post!
     
    11:33
    Straight after that Switzerland have taken a timeout, this game has suddenly really started to unravel for them
     
    11:33
    Goal for Team Canada! The Swiss are falling apart! MELODIE DAOUST tries a wraparound attempt, that gets stopped but she's first to her own rebound and right on the goal line she stuffs it home, it's already 3-0! Assists- Jennifer Wakefield
     
    11;10
    Goal for Team Canada! That disallowed goal now matters little! NATALIE SPOONER deflects in a long attempt from Catherine Ward and she grabs her second of the game! Powerplay goal and it's 2-0! Assists- Catherine Ward Hayley Wickenheiser
     
    10:59
    Canada have the puck in the net for the second time but the referees have immediately ruled out the goal for interference on the crease! It's a rather controversial decision
     
    10:57
    Johnston rips it first time and Schelling reacts well to push it wide! And now it's another penalty against the Swiss, Sara Benz for hooking has been penalised
     
    10:09
    And Canada go offside again. Switzerland are defending against this powerplay solidly so far
     
    09:02
    Canada go offside
     
    09:02
    Nicole Bullo for tripping has given Canada a powerplay opportunity to try and extend their one goal lead
     
    08:28
    High pass into the crease from Larocque and Schelling catches it out of the air with her glove
     
    07:29
    Goal for Team Canada! It's the breakthrough! NATALIE SPOONER takes the puck into the zone, skates around the net and back out to the left before roofing the puck into the net with a rasping wrist shot, it's a wonderful individual goal and it's 1-0!
     
    07:12
    Tara Watchorn blasts the puck wide of the target when well placed at the top of the zone! And it's icing from Switzerland
     
    05:30
    Agosta finds room between two defenders to sqeeuze in a low wrist shot and Schelling turns it wide with her pads
     
    05:05
    Canada cough up the puck high in their own zone and they have to get back to block the ensuing shot!
     
    03:47
    Right off that faceoff draw Benz seizes the puck for Switzerland and skates away one on one but Szabados beats her wrister away!
     
    03:38
    Long dump into the Swiss zone and Schelling doesn't take any risks with freezing for a faceoff
     
    02:55
    Daoust deflects a low pass into the slot right in front of Schelling and it drifts wide! Canada have started well
     
    02:18
    Poulin spins well at the boards, feeds Johnston right in the middle of the zone but her attempt gets blocked before it makes its way to the net!
     
    00:30
    Big early chance for the Canadians! Brianne Jenner streaks through the middle of the ice through the Swiss defence but she can't beat Florence Schelling glove side!
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    The teams are now coming out on to the ice and it's time to get underway!
     
    Starting lineups:

    Canada: Szabados (Labonte)- Rougeau, Fortino, Johnston, Hefford, Poulin- Ward, Watchorn, Agosta, Wickenheiser, Spooner- Larocque, Wakefield, Apps, Daqust- Quellette, Jenner, Irwin

    Switzerland: Schelling (Anthametten)- J Marty, Frautschi, S Marty, Muller, Stanz- Stalder, L Benz, Thalmann, S Benz, Lutz- Forster, Bullo, Atltmannm, Raselli, Eggimann- Nabholz, Waidacher, Stiefel

    Referees: Blair, Hanrahan, Novotna.
     
    Both teams did meet in Group A and the Canadians comfortably won 5-0, and many are expecting that kind of result again tonight. The winner will play the USA in the final after they put away Sweden easily 6-1.
     
    Canada qualified automatically for the semi finals as a result of finishing top of Group A. Switzerland were also in Group A and they had to go through the playoff round after they finished in last place, and they then surprisingly managed to beat the Russians 2-0.
     
    Good evening everybody, and welcome to coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. Tonight we bring you the second of the women's ice hockey semi finals, where the tournament favourites Canada face Switzerland.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 18:00.
    Commentary by

    Shaun Nicolaides

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 8. Spooner, 11. Spooner (Ward, Wickenheiser), 12. Daoust (Wakefield) – 26. Lutz (Benz, Benz)

    Canada2: Szabados (Labonte)- Rougeau, Fortino, Johnston, Hefford, Poulin- Ward, Watchorn, Agosta, Wickenheiser, Spooner- Larocque, Wakefield, Apps, Daqust- Quellette, Jenner, Irwin
    Switzerland: Schelling (Anthametten)- J Marty, Frautschi, S Marty, Muller, Stanz- Stalder, L Benz, Thalmann, S Benz, Lutz- Forster, Bullo, Atltmannm, Raselli, Eggimann- Nabholz, Waidacher, Stiefel
    Referees: Blair, Hanrahan, Novotna