Features

The view from the stands - the Olympic Women's Medal Matches

Tuesday, 21st February 2006
The men take a rest and centre stage is handed over to the ladies for the bronze and gold medal games. Two placement matches were also played with Switzerland beating Italy 11-0 and Germany beat Russia on penalty shots after a goal less draw.  So on to the big games.
 
First up were USA and Finland. Could USA lift themselves after the semi final defeat and take a bronze.
 
The Finish game was to try and contain the Americans and hit them on the break. Plan A went in the bucket after only 2 mins as USA took the lead on the powerplay. Julie Chu skated in from point and pinged one towards the net. Stephens was unmarked in the slot screening Raty as the puck went through the five-hole. 1-0. 6 mins later and it was 2-0. Katie King took a pass from Helen Resor and deked Raty and roofed the puck for the American’s second goal.
11:05 on the clock and the game was all but over as Katie King scored her second goal with a stunning breakaway and shot. 16 year old goalie Raty looks crestfallen. The period ran out with a plethora of penalties given by ref Joy Tottman as the Finns got a little bit physical. No further scoring and the USA have a comfortable 3-0 lead at the first break.
 
USA continue to dominate and go further ahead after only 1:44 of the second and it’s a hat trick goal for Katie King. Once again Julie Chu had the puck on the right side and slid the puck straight to Katie King who placed the shot wide of Raty. It’s the Katie King show. That finishes the game for the young starting goalie as the Finnish coach sends on Maija Hassinen for the rest of the game.  America continued to dominate taking the game to the Finns for the rest of the period. Finland just are not at the races. End of the period 4-0 and the bronze is on its way to Minnesota USA.
 
Not much to report on the third period other than another plethora of penalties , with both teams failing to score. The last 10 minutes wind down with the USA taking their foot off the gas and the clock runs out on the Finns.  Bronze to USA 4-0.
 
So to the final and the first competitive final that has not included both USA and Canada. The North Americans are huge favourites but Sweden have come on in leaps and bounds in the last couple of years.
 
Sweden, like Finland in the bronze game have planned to contain Canada for a while and strike on the break. Young goalie Martin will again be the key figure.
Canada strike early and go 1-0 up after 3:15. Gillian Apps took possession in the corner and went on a meander through the left circle. With a defender in close attention she backhanded a shot that got past Martin. The goalie was too slow getting her stick down and it crept underneath and into the net. 8 mins gone and Canada should have gone two up as Ouellette went one on one with Martin in goal. The Swede pulled off a brilliant save to keep Sweden in the game. Canada got their second goal at 12:13 as Oullette takes a great pass from Hefford and smacked a beauty past Martin 2-0. That does it for the first period and Canada can be happy with their first 20 minutes work. Sweden will have to up their game to compete in this match.
 
Second period begins and its all Canada with Martin making 3 great saves in the first 5 minutes. But there is nothing she can do after 28:58 when Cherie Piper ( unfortunately no relation to me!) took a pass from Wickenheiser and roofed the shot. Martin had no chance with the pace on the shot. 3-0 and the gold looks like its heading to Canada. 29 seconds later its 4-0 as Jennifer Botterill kept possession behind the net. She waited for ages and Hefford appeared open in the slot. Easy goal but the Swedes seemed asleep in defence. Another 2 minutes gone and a brilliant save by Martin stops the Canadians going nap. End of the second and 4-0 to Canada. The score might show the Canadians well on top but the Swedes are giving a good account of themselves. Too much for them to do to win but they can keep their pride in the third.
 
Third period has begun and Sweden have found a bit of belief in themselves, keeping possession and taking the game to Canada. 45:52 and the Swedes get the goal their third period efforts deserve. Holst and Rooth play the puck behind the net three or four times then moved it to Gunilla Andersson on the point. She took one step forward and unleashed an exocet of a slap shot upper left hand corner for the goal. 4-1 to Canada. Five minutes to go and Canada have weathered the Swedish storm and look like playing the game out to take gold. Canada wind down the clock and deservedly take the gold. Great effort from Sweden, they are on the right tracks and it will not be long before the mount a serious challenge.  
 
That’s it for the ladies competition……… Gold to Canada, Silver to Sweden and Bronze to USA.
 
More soon!
 
Tambo