Early in the second, the U.S. killed off over a minute and a half of a 5-on-3 advantage for Sweden. Two minutes later, Sweden had a full two minutes of 5-on-3 opportunity. Goaltender Annelies Bergmann (Detroit, Mich.) made several point-blank saves and Sweden hit a few posts to keep the score at 1-0.
At 11:56 Sweden’s Stella Lindell snuck a rebound under Bergmann’s pads to knot the game at one. Later, at 7:33 during a power play, Sweden snuck a shot from the point past the U.S. netminder to go up 2-1. The two teams continued playing a physical middle frame, with Sweden holding a 7-2 advantage in power plays in the stanza.
Just 1:18 into the final frame, Maggie Scanell (Wynatskill, N.Y.) took a Laney Potter (Pittsburgh, Pa.) pass and ripped a shot past Jonsson to tie the game at two.
With 14:45 left in regulation, Bergmann stood tall following a scramble in front of the net. Following the defensive stand, Team USA maintained offensive zone possession for the next few minutes, putting pressure on the Sweden defense.
With 6:38 remaining, Gorbatenko was denied on a point-blank shot from inside the circle, but on the ensuing shot, Grace Dwyer (Wynnewood, Pa.) found the back of the net to give Team USA the lead.
Next up, Team USA will face Canada in the Gold Medal Game on Monday, June 13. Puck drop is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast live on NHL Network.
NOTES: Grace Dwyer (Wynnewood, Pa.) was named player of the game… The U.S. outshot Sweden, 53-24.
