Natalie Darwitz scored a goal and added two assists as the United States went on to beat Finland 6-0 in women’s hockey action on Thursday in Vancouver.
Julie Chu, Molly Engstrom, Meghan Duggan, Hilary Knight and Karen Thatcher also scored for the U.S. (3-0) who took sole control of first place in Group B.
Noora Räty did her best to keep this game respectable, stopping 36 of 42 shots for Finland (2-1), including several flashy glove saves in the second and third period.
Team USA came out strong in the first period, scoring four times, including twice in a 42 second span midway through the period and outshooting their opponents 20-9.
After opening up a four-goal lead heading into the second, the U.S. seemed to take its foot off the gas and only mustered one goal on seven shots in the second period.
Despite its inability to keep pace with the U.S., Finland never quit and played a strong game against a far superior American squad.
Finland had a chance to break Jessie Vetter’s shutout late in the third as Anne Helin was rewarded a penalty shot after being taken down while on a breakaway.
Helin became the first player in Olympic women’s hockey history to take a penalty shot, but Vetter made a nice blocker save on the attempt.
Vetter was solid when called upon, finishing the game with 23 saves.
