Canada reaches women’s hockey gold-medal game, beating pesky Switzerland 3-1

Canada fought through more frustration than generally expected during its 3-1 semifinal win over determined Switzerland in the Olympic women's hockey semifinal at Shayba Arena.

The proof of how, or even whether, that carries forward into the never-in-doubt gold-medal matchup vs. Team USA on Thursday (12 noon ET/9 a.m. PT, CBC) will be decided by that game itself. For a change, Team Canada did its damage early, scoring thrice in the first 11½ minutes. It was contained for the duration by a 45-save effort the indomitable Florence Schelling, but Shannon Szabados (21 saves) was up to the task in her own net.

"They gave us a good game, that's what we expected," Szabados, who faced about a half-dozen grade-A chances, told CBC. "Playing for this team, you get used to it [not having a lot of shots]. You just have to stay focused."

Coach Kevin Dineen's team, which took two days off following its preliminary round win over the U.S. last Thursday, struck quickly.

Canada dressed only five defenders for the contest; Meaghan Mikkelson was held out with an undisclosed injury.

Right wing Natalie Spooner, scoreless in the prelims, scored twice in the first period to stake Canada to the early. The goals came minutes after Szabados was a saviour early, making a blocker arm save on Laura Benz after an offensive blueliner turnover by Tara Watchorn created a breakaway.

Twenty-three seconds after Spooner's second, McGill Martlets star Melodie Daoust, who had also not scored in the tournament, tallied to open a 3-0 lead.

Given that it had outscored the Swiss by an aggregate 60-1 in their all-time series, Canada could hardly be forgiven for easing off the throttle over the remaining 45 or so minutes. It pressed for a fourth goal, with Schelling, a former three-time nominee for NCAA player of the year, making 22 second-period saves to keep Switzerland from falling further behind. Her stellar play was rewarded 5:14 into the second, when Jessica Lutz scored a power-play goal seconds after a 5-on-3 expired.

Meghan Agosta-Marciano had an apparent goal disallowed in the third after a strong rush to the net where she crashed into Schelling and all three, shooter, goalie, and the puck, ended up in the net. Canada and Switzerland traded chances in a faster-paced third, where the shots were even at 10-10.

With a final shot count of 48-22, the game was much more competitive than the first semifinal, where the U.S. outshot Sweden 70-9 during its 6-1 win. Sweden was a surprise semifinalist after upsetting Finland in the quarter-final last Saturday.

Switzerland is assured of its best finish in an Olympic tournament, regardless of the result in the bronze-medal game. Sweden will vie for its first medal since its improbable silver in 2006.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.