What We Learned As Team USA Women’s Hockey Stays Hot With Win vs. Italy in Olympic Quarterfinals

The fight for a gold medal began Friday in the women’s hockey quarterfinals.

Team USA women’s hockey is a perfect 4–0 at the Milan Cortina Games heading into the quarterfinals against Italy. | Sona Maleterova/Getty Images

Team USA women’s hockey is truly a juggernaut.

Riding high into the knockout round after outscoring their four preliminary opponents—including Canada—a combined 20–1, the U.S. kept pouring it on Friday at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena with a 6–0 shutout of Italy.

Here are three things we learned:

Nothing gets by Gwyneth Philips

Team USA goaltender Gwyneth Philips earned her second straight shutout with six saves against Italy. Team USA hasn’t allowed a goal since Barbora Jurickova of Czechia scored in the second period of the preliminary round opener back on Feb. 5.

That’s 271 minutes and 23 seconds of game time without allowing a goal—an Olympic record.

Philips didn’t see too much action, of course. Italy managed just six shots on net. At one point in the second period, Italy had gone nearly 25 minutes of game time without recording a single shot on net.

Outside of the Olympics, Philips stars for the Ottawa Charge in the PWHL and played collegiate hockey at Northeastern.

Good luck stopping Team USA’s attack

Just about anyone can score up and down the U.S. roster. On Friday, it was Kendall Coyne scoring twice, with Hannah Bilka, Britta Curl, Laila Edwards and Megan Keller also lighting the lamp.

Hilary Knight’s record chase

Notably left off the scoresheet Friday was Team USA captain Hilary Knight, who is tied for the all-time U.S. lead in Olympic goals and points. Across five Olympic games, Knight has 14 career goals, tied with Natalie Darwitz and Katie King, and 32 points—tied with Jenny Potter.

What’s next?

Team USA is on to the semifinals.

Since the playoff field is reseeded after the quarterfinal round, Team USA’s semifinal matchup is not officially set. But unless No. 7 Germany stuns No. 2 Canada on Saturday in the quarterfinals, Team USA will battle No. 6 Sweden in the semifinals on Monday.

Team USA 6, Italy 0: Here’s everything that happened

Catch up on our live blog from the game:

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